HCSO Gearing Up For Honor Escorts For Two Local Soldiers Killed in Sunday’s IED Blast in Afghanistan

Posted Jul 12, 2012 by Howard Altman

Updated Jul 12, 2012 at 11:00 AM

The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office is “gearing up” for two honor escorts for local soldiers killed in Afghanistan Sunday.

“We are gearing up for two honor escorts at MacDill Air Force Base” for SSgt. Ricardo Seija , 31, and Spc. Clarence Williams III, 23, according to HCSO spokesman J.D. Callaway. Seija, a graduate of Leto High School and Williams, from Brooksville, were two of six soldiers killed Sunday when their armored vehicle was blown up by an improvised explosive device in Wardak Province, Afghanistan.

“These are the families’ desires at this point to have dignified transfers at MacDill,” said Callaway.

The remains of Seija and Williams arrived at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware this morning for a dignified transfer ceremony there, according to the Air Force.

The remains of Spc. Cameron J. Stambaugh of Spring Grove, Pa., Pfc. Trevor B. Adkins of Spring Lake, NC, Pfc. Alejandro J. Pardo of Porterville, Calif, and Spc. Erica P. Alecksen, 21, of Eatonton, Ga., also arrived at Dover this morning, according to the Air Force.

All six soldiers were assigned to the 978th Military Police Cmpany, 93rd Military Police Battalion, Fort Bliss, Texas.

Callaway said he did not immediately have details about when the ceremony at MacDill will take place, saying only that HCSO is gearing up to provide honor escorts some time next week.