Bufford “Kenny” Van Slyke
Private First Class, United States Marine Corps Reserve
July 11, 1984-February 28, 2007
Age – 22
Bay City, MI
Operation Iraqi Freedom
Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 24th Marines, 24th Marine Division, Saginaw, MI
Died while conducting combat operations in Anbar province
Pfc. Bufford K. Van Slyke of Bay City, Mich., joined the Marines because he wanted to support his family and do some good. He came from a military family. Both his parents were in the Navy. They say they always joked that it took two sailors to raise a Marine.
As a child Kenny was frightened of many things. He was scared of heights and being left alone in the dark. He was afraid to swim. Big, rumbling roller coasters terrified him. But he overcame those fears as he grew older, eventually becoming a man willing to fight and risk his life as a Marine.
Although Kenny attended public schools in Oak Harbor, Wash., he spent his summers and many holidays with his father’s family in Spokane. Little by little, he conquered his childhood fears by wrestling and hanging out with his brother, as well as spending time outdoors, fishing, hiking and even panning for gold with his father. He blossomed into a daredevil eventually became drawn to snowboarding, BMX bike-racing and other sports. He was not afraid to be afraid.
“His biggest fear was that he wouldn’t be able to come home and see his family,” his mother said. “He loved that baby so much. Kenny’s face just lit up when he talked to that baby, and that baby’s face would light up, too.”
VanSlyke was assigned to the Marine Forces Reserve’s 1st Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, based in Saginaw.
Maj. Shannon Wiley told the Detroit Free Press that VanSlyke was with the “follow-along” group of Marines belonging to the Michigan-based 1/24th headquartered at Selfridge Air National Guard Base who were in training when the other men of the unit went to Iraq in the fall.
VanSlyke previously worked as an electrician and construction worker. He also refereed youth football games in the Bay City area, and his family said he was looking forward to refereeing again.
His father wrote the following: “Kenny was born/raised in the Great state of Washington. His Brother moved to Mi. to attend College, Kenny wanting to stay close followed. He met a wonderful woman whom he married and fathered a Beautiful son Kaiden. His home will always be Washington, I will never sell the Property he and his brothers so wonderfully worked so hard to develop. Kenny your “Beware of Dog” sign is still w/ me and your tree fort still stands. The things you left behind will stay with me always…. I find peace in knowing that “A day is like a thousand years and a thousand is like a day… so when we meet again it will be like “yesterday”….
I will always hold you close in my Heart and will try my damnedest to ensure your son learns the outdoors, fishing, camping and Gold Sniping just like you have…. One day we will find the nugget you lost….
Your Loving Dad
Keith