Feeks Family: 'He Was a Gift From God'

The family of Patrick Feeks released a public statement Tuesday afternoon. Their message to the public can be found below.

It is with sincere regret that we share the loss of Patrick. He has touched all of our lives as a husband, a son, a brother, a friend, and a hero. He was truly devoted to his teammates and country. We want to thank everyone for the kind sentiments and gifts. The support and strength within our community has been extremely well received.

For 28 years, Patrick effortlessly carried forth the honor and high traditions of our family. He lived his life as a fearless, humble and fierce competitor who earned the respect and admiration of the people who knew him. To this family, he was a gift from God and made us proud every day.

Patrick died fighting for what he believed in among his brothers-in-arms. We're proud of his service to our country, where he spent the past six years serving in combat operations around the world supporting the Global War on Terrorism. Patrick’s grit and resilience shined through, as he stepped forward of his own free will to serve and protect the freedom and rights shared by our great country. As we mourn and feel a tremendous sense of loss, we realize Patrick's death is not in vain; it reaffirms the sacred commitment our nation has made to achieve its ideals, which unfortunately, come at a price that cannot be repaid.

Patrick is a hero who earned the privilege and right to be called so. As fellow Americans, we owe that to him, because for us—he gave so much. He is always in our hearts and on our minds and the emptiness left by his passing is a burden we will carry for the rest of our lives.