War Hits Home My Cousin Killed in Afghanistan

My Mom called yesterday with the bad news. My cousin Davy Weaver was killed in Afghanistan . He was my Dad's Brother's Son.

According to a newspaper account his Humvee was hit by an improvised explosive device.



I don't think I'd seen Davy since our Papa's funeral several years ago but I always think back of some of the time, although limited, we spent together growing up. One of my fondest memories was being in his (first) wedding in 1992 (or 93?).

And even though my oldest son wasn't named after my cousin they shared the same name(different spelling) and that has always been cool to me. (Of course, I named my son 'Davey Alan' after 2 dead race car drivers)

In my job as a Television Photojournalist I've spent some time with families headed to war and I've sat with families that have received this same tragic news. I've even had to endure the 3 + cumulative years that my wife's sister's husband spent in Afghanistan and Iraq.

But in those situations you kind of feel immune to it all. It's too bad we're not.


Patsy Rabuck (left) displays the Boonie hat and unit flag of her son, Sgt. Davy Weaver, who was killed Sunday in Afghanistan. She is joined by Weaver’s sister, Cynthia Pierce.

I know this is a tough time for Davy's mom, my Aunt Patsy, his sister Cynthia and his dad Teddy. Please know my thoughts are with you!

God Bless you Davy!

I'll miss you bud!

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FROM THE HERALD GAZETTE, BARNESVILLE, GEORGIA.
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Sgt. Davy Nathaniel Weaver

Soldier pays ultimate price

By Walter Geiger

A Lamar County soldier was killed Sunday in Afghanistan when his Humvee was hit by an improvised explosive device.

Sgt. Davy Nathaniel Weaver, 39, was a 21-year veteran of the U.S. Army on his third mideast tour. He was a 1987 graduate of Lamar County High School.

An Army notification team arrived at the home of Weaver’s mother, Patsy Rabuck, on Highway 36 East, with the bad news Sunday. “His Humvee was hit about three weeks ago and he got bumps and bruises. I thought they were coming to tell me about that,” Rabuck said.

Instead, she got the news she dreaded most.

Weaver had done tours in Bosnia and Iraq before being deployed to Afghanistan. “You never hear about Afghanistan. It is all Iraq, Iraq, Iraq. Davy told me Afghanistan was the worst place to be sent. It is all sand and there is no place to hide. He said his tour in Iraq was nothing compared to Afghanistan,” Rabuck said.

Funeral services are pending. “They were holding ceremonies over there. We should know some more today (Monday),” Rabuck said.

In addition to his mother, Weaver is survived by his wife, Susan, and a two-year-old daughter, Ella, who live near Fort Stewart in Hinesville. Two sons from a previous marriage, Bradley Ashton Weaver, 10, and Malachi Jon Weaver, 7, live in Auburn, Alabama.

Local VFW post commander Junior Hamrick said Weaver was the first Lamar soldier killed in the line of duty in the current Gulf war. “We will be taking care of his family,” Hamrick said.

A chickenque has already been scheduled for Memorial Day, May 26, at the post home at noon. Proceeds go to help military families. VFW ladies auxiliary members will also be selling Buddy poppies this weekend to raise funds.

For more information, contact Hamrick at 358-0311.

Rabuck said her son died doing what he loved.

“He signed up in the 11th grade and had been in the military ever since. He could have gotten out last year but he reenlisted. He said he wanted to serve his country. When he left last time he told me, ‘Mama, if I don’t make it back, I love you.” I told him to not even talk like that,” Rabuck said.

Now she is concerned about funeral expenses and the health of Weaver’s grandmother who collapsed when told of her grandson’s death and had to be hospitalized.

“It will be a financial hardship on us, that’s for sure,” the grieving mom concluded.