Pfc. John Kihm, 19, of Philadelphia, Pa., died April 19 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y. The soldier died supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. The Cardinal Dougherty graduate was awarded the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the National Defense Service Medal, and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. He was survived by his mother, father, and two older sisters.

“Once his mother joked to him, ‘You didn’t get the memo. The war’s all over, and they’re sending you back to me.’

‘No, Mom,’ Kihm said. ‘This is really where I want to be.’”

–Philadelphia Inquirer

The Travis Manion Foundation honored Pfc. John Kihm through the Character Does Matter program. His story was shared with students at Germantown High School in Philadelphia, Pa. Cadets in the Air Force JROTC at Germantown High School are continued Kihm’s legacy of service along with Staff Sgt. Jesse Williams’ through a “If Not Me, Then Who…” Service Challenge.