BY NICK MATTERA
Alan N. Dikcis hoped to make a career out of the Army but the 21-year-old Wheatfield man won’t get that chance.
The U.S. Army specialist was killed Thursday after being hit by a roadside bomb just outside of Marjah, Afghanistan, leaving behind a 3-year-old daughter and large extended family.
Gricela Dikcis, Alan’s stepmother, said the 2006 Niagara-Wheatfield graduate was a good friend to everyone and served our country with pride.
“Alan loved being in the Army. He was proud of his work,” Gricela said. “He made us proud, he made his daughter proud, but you just hate to lose a son this way.”
Alan’s daughter, 3-year-old Sophia Brown, and father, Robert S. Dikcis, left Friday night for Dover Air Force base to retrieve his body.
“Everything Alan did, he did to make Sophia proud,” Gricela said. “It is a tragedy he won’t be here to watch her grow up.”
Alan was a specialist in the 630 Engineer Battalion and worked with machinery designed to clear roadside bombs. He was stationed just outside of Kandahar.
Gricela said that sometime Thursday, Alan was struck by a roadside explosive and died shortly after while being transported to a hospital in a medevac helicopter.
Alan’s hobbies included riding his motorcycle, four-wheeling, hiking and being with family and friends.
His stepmother said he will be remembered for his knock-out smile, hard-working attitude and service to our country. He was deployed in August 2009 for his second tour of duty and was hoping to make a career in the armed forces.
“He wanted to make a career out of his service, that’s why he re-enlisted,” Gricela said.
Along with his father, stepmother and daughter, Alan is survived by two brothers, Robert S. Dikcis Jr., and Stanley R. Dikcis, and three stepbrothers, Michael Cannuli, Thomas A. Cannuli and Robert Alan Dikcis.
Pvt. 1st Class Thomas Cannuli is currently serving in Afghanistan, however, the Red Cross has made arrangements to bring him home. Stanley Dikcis was injured last year while serving in Iraq.
Funeral service will be provided at Colucci & Son funeral home on Military Road. Dates and times have not been decided.
Contact reporter Nick Mattera at 282-2311, ext. 2251.
