Montana News

Flags lowered to honor SFC Darren Linde of Sidney

Posted: Dec 11, 2012 9:56 AM by MTN News
Updated: Dec 11, 2012 10:18 AM

Flags across Montana are flying at half-staff to honor Sergeant First Class Darren Linde of Sidney.

SFC Linde was killed on Monday, Dec. 3 when a roadside bomb struck his vehicle in southern Afghanistan.

Linde's body was returned home to Montana on Sunday morning and was received by his family at a dignified transfer ceremony in Sidney shortly after 11 a.m. Sunday.

A public memorial will be held for Linde at the Richland County Fair Event Center on Tuesday, Dec. 11 at 1 p.m.

Here is the full text of Gov. Brian Schweitzer's proclamation:

I hereby order all flags flown in the State of Montana to be flown at half staff on Monday the 10th of December, 2012, and Tuesday the 11th of December, 2012, to honor the memory of Sergeant First Class Darren M. Linde who died on December 3, 2012 in Helmand Province, Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Linde was a soldier, a son, a husband and a father.

"He was so well-liked by everyone," said his father, Dwight Linde, of Williston, ND. "Everything he did, he always had a smile on his face and did it to the best of his ability."

SFC Linde graduated from Sidney High School in 1989. Two years later he joined the North Dakota Army National Guard.

Throughout his time in the military, Linde became a highly decorated soldier and those honors were recognized Wednesday by U.S. Senator Max Baucus on the floor of the U.S. Senate.

Linde is survived by his wife, Adrienne, and their four children.

His teenage daughter Alexis posted a video called "For My Dad" over the summer to Youtube.com; it's a tribute she wrote to her father shortly after he deployed for a second time. The song depicts military families left at home and what it would be like if their soldier had chosen a 9 to 5 lifestyle, instead of serving their country.