North Middleton Township, Pa. - Robert Bishop clearly remembers when his son decided to join the Army.

"After 9/11, he made up his mind he was going in," Bishop said. "Of course, my wife wanted to talk him out of it, but there was no stopping him - he was going."

Bishop and his wife raised their five children on Long Island. They retired to North Middleton Township, Cumberland County, about five years ago.

After the terrorist attack, Keith Bishop signed up and was deployed to Korea and Afghanistan. He later became a Green Beret.

"I was very proud," his father said. "Very apprehensive, though, because I knew going into special forces it was going to be dangerous. And it proved to be true."

Keith was sent to Afghanistan in August. A few months later, in late October, the helicopter he was riding in went down. 

"I talked to one of the guys that was on the helicopter and he said it nosed down and went into a building," Bishop said. "And the building collapsed and the helicopter caught fire."

Bishop said he got a knock on his door close to midnight. He said when he saw two Green Berets on his doorstep, he immediately knew his son would not be coming home.

Keith was among 10 killed. His father said he was initially told the helicopter hit a cliff and crashed. Now, however, he said Army officials have informed him they believe the crash was a result of hostile fire.

"He was a good soldier," Bishop said. "He was a great kid."

When Keith's body was brought to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, President Barack Obama (web | news | bio) was there to salute him. He personally offered his support to Keith's family.

"He seemed very sincere," Bishop said. "It wasn't like we were just talking to a politician. If you didn't know better, you thought you were talking to your nieghbor."

Keith Bishop was buried on Long Island. A park is now named for him in his hometown of Medford, New York.

"They treated him like a real hero," Bishop said. "It was very nice."

This holiday will be undoubtedly tough for the Bishops as they mourn their fun-loving and patriotic son. Keith was the youngest of five children. They have yet to put up any decorations because they just "haven't been into it this year."

"We'll probably put up a tree because of the grandkids," Bishop said.

Robert Bishop said he hopes this holiday season, amid the cards and carols and presents and parties, that people will stop and remember to cherish their freedom.

"I hope that people remember the sacrifice that they're making over there and just think about all the other families that have lost loved ones and won't be around for the holidays," he said.

 

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