Grafenwöhr NCO dies just before heading downrange

[unhappycamper]

Grafenwöhr NCO dies just before heading downrange
By Seth Robson, Stars and Stripes
European edition, Thursday, November 6, 2008

GRAFENWÖHR, Germany — The death of a comrade was something Iraq-bound 172nd Infantry Brigade soldiers were prepared for — just not so soon.

Staff Sgt. Tim Rancore, who was 45, survived Operations Desert Storm/Desert Shield, two Balkans peacekeeping missions, two tours to Iraq and cancer surgery only to die in a tragic household accident as he prepared to head back into danger one more time.

German police are investigating the accident, which happened at the Netzaberg off-post military housing area, 172nd public affairs officer Capt. Stephen Short said Wednesday. A memorial service for the 19-year Army veteran was held Tuesday.

Nicknamed "Hardcore," Rancore, of Culver City, Calif., was the noncommissioned officer in charge of the brigade Tactical Operations Center.

In recent months, he helped train his soldiers in gunnery at Grafenwöhr and during a mission-rehearsal exercise at Hohenfels before supervising them as they packed their gear and took it to the desert.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=58666