Neff, Randy Lj Jr
Male
Verified U.S. Army Specialist Randy Lj Neff Jr., 22, of Blackfoot, Idaho, died on July 22, 2009, in Zabul province, Afghanistan, while serving with the 4th Engineer Battalion.
Their Story
Randy Lj Neff Jr. was a 22-year-old soldier from Blackfoot, Idaho. He served as a Specialist with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 4th Engineer Battalion, based at Fort Carson, Colorado. According to the U.S. Army, his service included deployments to Afghanistan, the Philippines, and the Horn of Africa.
On July 22, 2009, Specialist Neff was killed by enemy fire in Zabul province, southern Afghanistan. The Department of Defense stated he died of wounds sustained from hostile fire while on a dismounted patrol. Another soldier, Private First Class Richard K. Jones, was killed in the same incident.
Neff's death occurred during Operation Enduring Freedom, the U.S.-led military campaign in Afghanistan that began in October 2001. By mid-2009, the conflict was intensifying, with a surge of U.S. forces deployed to counter a resilient Taliban insurgency, particularly in southern provinces like Zabul.
His body was returned to the United States, and he was buried in the Grove City Cemetery in Blackfoot, Idaho. The Army posthumously awarded him the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, and other commendations. His family and community in Bingham County held memorial services in his honor.
Specialist Neff is memorialized on the Fort Carson 'Fallen Heroes' memorial and on online veterans' tribute pages. His name is inscribed on the Idaho Fallen Soldier Memorial in the state's Veterans Memorial Park in Boise.
Explore Further
Randy Lj Neff Jr. was killed during Operation Enduring Freedom (2001–2014). The conflict concluded in December 2014. See the full roster of those killed in this conflict.
Among those documented in the same conflict: Andrews, Evander Earl, Edmunds, Jonn Joseph, Stonesifer, Kristofor Tif, Davis, Bryant Leroy.
