Red Bay native killed in Afghanistan

A Red Bay High School graduate was killed on Thursday while serving with his National Guard unit in Afghanistan.

Capt. Waid C. Ramsey, 41, formerly of Red Bay, died in Paktika province in Afghanistan from wounds suffered when his unit was attacked with small arms fire on Thursday.

Ramsey, who graduated from Red Bay High School in 1987, was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 20th Special Forces Group (Airborne), stationed out of Birmingham.

“The Alabama National Guard is deeply saddened by the loss of one of our own,” said the Alabama National Guard’s top officer, Maj. Gen. Perry G. Smith.

“Our sincerest condolences go out to the family during this time of grief. We are praying for Capt. Ramsey’s family, friends and all the Soldiers of the 20th Special Forces Group who have lost a brother-in-arms.”

Ramsey grew up in Red Bay but had moved away from the area after his graduation in 1987.

Red Bay Mayor Bobby Forsythe said even though Ramsey wasn’t currently living in the city, he was still grieved by the loss of a brave and courageous man.

“Our heartfelt condolences go out to Mr. Ramsey’s family,” Forsythe said. “I am so appreciative to the men and women who are willing to make the supreme sacrifice so America can remain free.”

Ramsey is the second Red Bay native to be killed in Afghanistan in the past two months.

21-year-old Cpl. Christopher Roger Bell was killed on June 4 by a roadside bomb in Langham Province in northeastern Afghanistan while on a morning patrol with three other soldiers from the U.S. Army’s 3rd Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, which is a military police unit.