Army Spc. Julian L. Berisford

Died November 4, 2009 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom

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25, of Benwood, W.Va.; assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, Fort Richardson, Alaska; died Nov. 4 in Bermal district, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his unit using small arms and rocket-propelled grenade fires.

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Was major fan of Mountaineers

The Associated Press

Julian Berisford wanted to be there for his daughter’s first steps, so he asked his wife to hold little Mya back just until he could come home.

He was supposed to come home in November to celebrate Mya’s first birthday.

The Army specialist who loved hunting, fishing — and “the great outdoors,” as he wrote on his MySpace page — was proud of his family and proud of being a soldier, said Berisford’s cousin Randi Jo Chavanak.

“The only thing he said before he left was that he was going to do things right for families like ours,” Chavanak said. “He was going to fight for families.”

Berisford, 25, of Benwood, W.Va., was killed Nov. 4 in Paktika province, Afghanistan, when insurgents attacked his unit. He was assigned to Fort Richardson, Alaska. He graduated from John Marshall High School in 2002 and enlisted in February 2007.

Berisford’s interests are clear from his MySpace page — he professes his love for West Virginia University sports and has several photos of a fishing trip to Canada. Also posted are numerous photos of his wife, Gina, and his daughter.

“He was a jokester and a fun-loving guy and always smiling,” said Cathy Jones, whose son went to school with Berisford.