Stepmom reflects on fallen soldier

NIAGARA WHEATFIELD, N.Y. (WIVB) - A Niagara County community is mourning the loss of a soldier who died while serving his country.

Specialist Alan Dikcis was deployed to Afghanistan in August of 2009.

Since then, his stepmother said everyone in the family would always show pictures of him to his 3-year-old daughter, Sophia so she wouldn't forget him.

They will do that even more, now that he was killed.

Stepmom, Gricela Dikcis remarked, "Nothing really prepares you for that knock on the door."

Gricela has cared for Al, as everyone calls him, since his mother passed away when he was young.

She describes the 21-year-old as a happy and active person.

"He loved his daughter. He has a 3-year-old little girl named Sophia and he was a good dad," she commented.

Alan is one of six brothers.

Three of them pursued military service.

"After high school, he wasn't sure what he wanted to do and his brother, Stan Dikcis, he was already in the military so he said, you know, that's what I wanna do," Gricela explained.

His stepmom said he loved his four wheeler and anything with a motor.

That's why he became a mechanic.

He repaired damaged military vehicles and he was also trained to clean up roadside bombs.

"There was an explosion and he died on the medi vac helicopter. He didn't make it to the hospital," she exclaimed.

He was scheduled to come home in April for two weeks. His official tour of duty would have ended this summer.

He decided to re-enlist just a few days ago.