Soldier from Alden dies in Afghanistan

ALDEN, N.Y. (WIVB) - Army Specialist Brett Gornewicz of Alden and two other reservists were killed while inspecting an area for roadside bombs on Saturday.

Gornewicz was home on leave in August. He didn't talk much about Afghanistan, but loved spending time with his family and friends. Monday night, his close friends described the Army Specialist as a selfless person with a great sense of humor, and a special affection for the Army.

PHOTO GALLERY | Army Specialist Brett Gornewicz

Steve Zinter said, "As kids, he always had the camouflage and BB guns and dress up and run around the house doing that kind of thing."

Gornewicz, of the 444th Engineer Company headquartered in Oswego, had served a tour in Iraq before electing to go to Afghanistan.

Andrew Smith said, "He had the opportunity to give up the Army, but once he found out that some of his brothers from the previous tour were going back, he told us he wanted to go back with them."

On November 3, Gornewicz' Humvee was struck by an improvised explosive device. He and two other soldiers from New York State, Specialist Ryan Jayne from Campbell and Staff Sergeant Dain T. Venne from Port Henry, were killed. His lifelong friends in Alden have taken it very hard.

Brian Peebles said, "I couldn't feel my stomach. It just caved in, and I didn't know what to feel, so I immediately told my wife, and just kind of stared for a minute. Didn't know what to do."

Gornewicz played varsity baseball and JV football at Alden, where he graduated from in 2003, and was always described as a team player.

Andrew Bermel said, "He was a great guy. He would do anything for anybody. He always had a way to come in to wherever we were and just brighten up the spot."

Gornewicz a girlfriend, Nicole, and hoped some day to raise a family. His family is in Dover, Delaware, awaiting his final homecoming.