Army Sgt. Demetrius L. Void

Died September 15, 2009 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom

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20, of Orangeburg, S.C.; assigned to the 57th Expeditionary Signal Battalion, 11th Signal Brigade, III Corps, Fort Hood, Texas; died Sept. 15 at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when a military vehicle struck him while conducting physical training.

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Took part in family tradition of military service

The Associated Press

Demetrius Void was always focused on academics in high school: Teachers said he never shied away from asking for help and had a competitive nature.

“He kept at it until he figured out that calculus,” said math teacher Sharlene Foster.

But Void also always wanted to be different. He decided not to apply for college and instead chose to follow his family’s tradition of military service.

“He said he was tired of school,” said his uncle Keith Void. “He said he was tired of being smart.”

Void, 20, of Orangeburg, S.C., died Sept. 15 at Kandahar Air Field of injuries sustained when a military vehicle struck him while he was jogging. He was assigned to Fort Hood, Texas. The military has said it is investigating the hit-and-run accident.

Void was disciplined before he joined the Army, being active in the JROTC at Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School.

“He greeted students at the front desk and said, ‘You can’t go in there until you get your pants up. ... This is an order,’ ” recalled Angelia Fersner, the school’s guidance counselor, who called Void her “acting secretary.”

Void is survived by his mother and two brothers.