SCHWEINFURT, Germany — A memorial service for two 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team “Sky Soldiers” was held at the Ledward Barracks chapel Wed- nesday.
Remembered were Capt. David Albin Boris and Sgt. Adrian Edward Hike, who were both killed Nov. 12 in Bermel, Afghanistan, when a roadside bomb exploded near their vehicle while on patrol.
Boris, 30, of Pottsville, Pa.; and Hike, 26, of Carroll, Iowa, were members of Troop A, or “Anvil Troop,” 1st Squadron, 91st Cavalry Regiment, and deployed to Afghanistan in May. Boris was the troop commander.
Both men were riding in the third vehicle in a convoy when the bomb struck, which also threw the driver from the vehicle. No one else was injured.
Members of 1-91’s rear detachment read remarks given during a Friday ceremony in Bermel, where Hike and Boris’ comrades, including their commander, Lt. Col. Chris Kolenda, remembered them and their last mission.
“On that tragic day, Anvil performed like champions ... there is no higher test to Dave’s leadership,” Kolenda said.
“They were good because Dave Boris and Adrian Hike trained them that way.”
A West Point grad who had dreams of returning there to teach, Boris is survived by his wife, Jaime; parents Albin and Diana; and sister, Jennifer Possinger.
In addition to his mother and stepfather, Kimberly and Robert Bird, Hike — a three-time Purple Heart recipient — leaves behind four brothers: Robert, Martin, Jon and Aaron.
