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Army Spc. Blake D. Whipple

Died November 5, 2010 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom


21, of Williamsville, N.Y.; assigned to 7th Engineer Battalion, 10th Sustainment Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y.; died Nov. 5 in the Khogani district of Ghazni province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.

Big-time sports fan who also enjoyed video games

The Associated Press

One of the highlights of rock ‘n’ roll lover Blake Whipple’s life was having his own radio show on St. Bonaventure University’s student-run station.

His friends and family described him as a fun-loving and funny guy who enjoyed baseball, football, hockey and video games.

Born in Detroit, Blake moved to the Buffalo, N.Y., suburb of Amherst with his family while in elementary school, and again to Baltimore for middle school and the beginning of high school, before settling in Amherst. He graduated in 2007 from Williamsville East High School.

He joined the Army in early 2009 after attending three western New York colleges: St. Bonaventure, Erie Community College and Buffalo State College.

“He wanted to do something more immediate in his life, and wanted to help his country,” said his father, David.

The 21-year-old combat engineer died Nov. 5 in Ghazni province, Afghanistan, when a bomb he was dismantling exploded. He was assigned to Fort Drum, N.Y.

While abroad, he kept in close touch with his family through Skype.

Survivors also include his mother, Kim, and two brothers.

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