Cpl. Zachary C. Reiff

An American Hero, Cpl. Zachary C. Reiff, 22, of Preston, Iowa, died as a result of wounds sustained November 18, 2011, in Sangin District, Helmand Province, Afghanistan. One day prior, on November 17, 2011 he was given “NCO of the Quarter” and placed on Meritorious Service Board for Sergeant. This was Cpl. Reiff’s second deployment to Afghanistan.
Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m. Friday, December 2, 2011 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Preston, Iowa. Burial with Full military Honors will be in St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery, Preston. Visitation will be held 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. Thursday, December 1, 2011 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Preston. Memorials may be given in Zachary’s honor for “Wounded Warriors” and “Soldier Angels.”
Zachary was born June 24, 1989 in Wichita, Kansas, the son of Matthew and Marcia (Hammond) Reiff. As a youth, Zachary played soccer, little league baseball and basketball. He was a 2007 Graduate of the Preston High School, where he played the drums in Band, and was a member of the Wrestling Team. Zachary was an avid deer and duck hunter. He also liked fishing and trapping. He enjoyed hanging-out with friends, especially camping at “JPs bottoms” near Spragueville. He was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church, Preston.
Zachary enlisted in the US Marine Corp December of 2008. He was stationed at Camp Pendelton and Twenty-Nine Palms near San Diego, California for Basic Training and Infantry School. His first deployment to Afghanistan was March of 2010 in Sangin District, Helmand Province. On July 21st of 2010 he was injured by an Improvised Explosive Device. Zachary recovered from his injuries with rehabilitation and volunteered for another deployment on September 23, 2011. He received fatal wounds from another Improvised Explosive Device on November 18, 2011. Zachary was a highly decorated soldier, receiving two Purple Hearts.
Zachary will be dearly missed by his father and mother, Matthew and Marcia Reiff; his brother, Kolby Reiff and fiancé Hailey Pata; his sister, Emily Reiff; maternal grandmother, Lucille Hammond; and nephew, Brantley Zachary Reiff, all of Preston. He will also be missed by his two aunts, Marly (Mike) Horton and Melissa (Reid) Mitchell; five uncles, Garry (Maryjane) Hammond, Richard Hammond, Ron Hammond, Chris Reiff and Cory Reiff; numerous cousins; and special friends, Corey (Michelle) Griggs. Zachary is preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Larry and Ruth Ann Reiff and his maternal grandfather, Roy Hammond.