The father of a Rockville man who died in Afghanistan says his son was trying to save innocent lives moments before his death Thursday.
Spc. Anthony A. Paci, 30, was killed when the military vehicle he was in rolled over in Gereshk, Afghanistan.
Leo Paci tells News4 his son was trying to avoid a family of civilians at the time of the crash. Spc. Paci asked the driver to swerve when he saw the family, his father said.
Spc. Paci grew up in Bethesda, Md. and graduated from Whitman High School. He lived in Rockville as an adult.
Paci’s service in Afghanistan was his second deployment. In December 2005, he spent about 11 months in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Spc. Paci’s mother, Helene Paci, tells News4 her son is her “brave American soldier”. His father calls him simply, “a great guy”.
Spc. Anthony Paci leaves behind a wife and three small children.
