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State Department diplomat with Chicago ties killed in Afghanistan.
Anne Smedinghoff (Family photo) (April 7, 2013)
By Rosemary Regina Sobol and Dawn Rhodes
Tribune reporter
2:02 a.m. CDT, April 7, 2013
A young diplomat from River Forest was among five Americans killed Saturday during a car bomb blast in Afghanistan, her family said.
A sixth American was killed in a separate attack in Afghanistan's east.
Anne Smedinghoff was 25, said her father Tom Smedinghoff, who was reached by phone.
“She was doing what she loved and she was doing great things,’’ her father said. “We’re just in total shock.’’
Mr. Smedinghoff said Secretary of State John Kerry called him Saturday morning to let him to let him know what happened to his daughter.
Kerry extended his prayers and condolences and remembered Anne because the two met recently when Kerry went to the Middle East about a week or two ago.
“She was one of the people who was helping to coordinate his visit, she got to meet him. He spoke glowingly of the work she’s been doing,’’ said her father of Kerry’s comments about his daughter, who the Washington Post said was the first U.S. diplomat to be killed in Afghanistan since the war began.
“He spoke very highly of her. It was very good to hear,’’ her father said.
She was killed along with three U.S. soldiers and a civilian employee of the Defense Department, Kerry said in a statement. They were in a convoy of vehicles in Zabul province when the blast occurred, Kerry said.
A sixth American who was a civilian working with the U.S. government was killed in a separate attack in Afghanistan's east, according to Reuters.
Mr. Smedinghoff said Anne went into the Foreign Service right out of college. Her first post was in Venezuela and she volunteered to go to Afghanistan where she’d been since last July.
As a diplomat, she was working in the public diplomacy department for the local population. She was helping women and working for equality for women, and with schools and local businesses there. Anne simply adored her job, her father said.
“She was living in a compound that was heavily fortified and she was always trying to get out and do things for the population.’’
Mr. Smedinghoff said he only knew a few details of the last moments of her life.
“She was in a convoy … somebody with a car or a truck laden with explosives rammed into her vehicle or somebody close and detonated and killed everybody,’’ Mr. Smedinghoff said.
Anne grew up in River Forest and had one brother and two younger sisters, his father said.
She came home for a Christmas holiday visit, and her father said he last spoke with her on Easter Sunday.
“She sounded so upbeat and so positive and so excited about all the work she’d been doing,’’ he said. “She was telling us about Kerry’s visit.’’
Growing up in River Forest, she was always a “very self confident and very intelligent young woman.”
Anne had a “passion for the work she was doing,’’ said her father.
“She really felt she was making a difference.’’
The family also issued the following statement about the tragedy:
The world lost a truly beautiful soul today. Our daughter, Anne, a U.S. Foreign Service Officer, died in the service of her country as she was traveling with a group to deliver books to a local school in the Zabul Province of Afghanistan. She joined the Foreign Service three years ago right out of college and there was no better place for her. Anne absolutely loved the work she was doing. Her first assignment was in Caracas, Venezuela. She then volunteered for an assignment at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, which she began in July, 2012. Working as a public diplomacy officer, she particularly enjoyed the opportunity to work directly with the Afghan people and was always looking for opportunities to reach out and help to make a difference in the lives of those living in a country ravaged by war. We are consoled knowing that she was doing what she loved, and that she was serving her country by helping to make a positive difference in the world. She was such a wonderful woman--strong, intelligent, independent, and loving. Annie, you left us too soon; we love you and we're going to miss you so much.
-- Tom & Mary Beth Smedinghoff
Zachary Turner of Florida said that he was “utterly devastated” when he learned of his friend’s untimely death.
“She was always trying to help people any way she could,” Tuner said late Saturday. “She’d always want to help the person next to her. You know that this was always a risk but you never really expect it to happen.”
Turner said that Smedinghoff’s unrelenting positivity stood out among her many positive traits.
“The thing about her that was completely unforgettable was her smile,” Turner said late Saturday. “We had a scavenger hunt to find a picture of her not smiling. No joke, I have about 100 photos and she’s smiling in all of them.”
Turner said that he and Smedinghoff met in 2009, when the two were part of a large group that participated in 4K for Cancer, a cross-country bike ride.
“Everything you can think of that could possibly go wrong does,” Turner said of the journey spanning thousands of miles. To wit: When the group hit Colorado, they were met by day after day of hail storms. When they scaled the mountains in Estes Park, again they were pounded by hail and 45-degree temperatures.
“We just all huddled under this tiny little shelter, waiting for it to end,” Turner said, chuckling. “Still, she was so positive and helped us get through it.”
cdrhodes@tribune.com
rsobol@tribune.com
Copyright © 2013 Chicago Tribune Company, LLC
Diplomat Anne Smedinghoff killed in Afghanistan - chicagotribune.com
Rest in Peace young Lady.
Anne Smedinghoff (Family photo) (April 7, 2013)
By Rosemary Regina Sobol and Dawn Rhodes
Tribune reporter
2:02 a.m. CDT, April 7, 2013
A young diplomat from River Forest was among five Americans killed Saturday during a car bomb blast in Afghanistan, her family said.
A sixth American was killed in a separate attack in Afghanistan's east.
Anne Smedinghoff was 25, said her father Tom Smedinghoff, who was reached by phone.
“She was doing what she loved and she was doing great things,’’ her father said. “We’re just in total shock.’’
Mr. Smedinghoff said Secretary of State John Kerry called him Saturday morning to let him to let him know what happened to his daughter.
Kerry extended his prayers and condolences and remembered Anne because the two met recently when Kerry went to the Middle East about a week or two ago.
“She was one of the people who was helping to coordinate his visit, she got to meet him. He spoke glowingly of the work she’s been doing,’’ said her father of Kerry’s comments about his daughter, who the Washington Post said was the first U.S. diplomat to be killed in Afghanistan since the war began.
“He spoke very highly of her. It was very good to hear,’’ her father said.
She was killed along with three U.S. soldiers and a civilian employee of the Defense Department, Kerry said in a statement. They were in a convoy of vehicles in Zabul province when the blast occurred, Kerry said.
A sixth American who was a civilian working with the U.S. government was killed in a separate attack in Afghanistan's east, according to Reuters.
Mr. Smedinghoff said Anne went into the Foreign Service right out of college. Her first post was in Venezuela and she volunteered to go to Afghanistan where she’d been since last July.
As a diplomat, she was working in the public diplomacy department for the local population. She was helping women and working for equality for women, and with schools and local businesses there. Anne simply adored her job, her father said.
“She was living in a compound that was heavily fortified and she was always trying to get out and do things for the population.’’
Mr. Smedinghoff said he only knew a few details of the last moments of her life.
“She was in a convoy … somebody with a car or a truck laden with explosives rammed into her vehicle or somebody close and detonated and killed everybody,’’ Mr. Smedinghoff said.
Anne grew up in River Forest and had one brother and two younger sisters, his father said.
She came home for a Christmas holiday visit, and her father said he last spoke with her on Easter Sunday.
“She sounded so upbeat and so positive and so excited about all the work she’d been doing,’’ he said. “She was telling us about Kerry’s visit.’’
Growing up in River Forest, she was always a “very self confident and very intelligent young woman.”
Anne had a “passion for the work she was doing,’’ said her father.
“She really felt she was making a difference.’’
The family also issued the following statement about the tragedy:
The world lost a truly beautiful soul today. Our daughter, Anne, a U.S. Foreign Service Officer, died in the service of her country as she was traveling with a group to deliver books to a local school in the Zabul Province of Afghanistan. She joined the Foreign Service three years ago right out of college and there was no better place for her. Anne absolutely loved the work she was doing. Her first assignment was in Caracas, Venezuela. She then volunteered for an assignment at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, which she began in July, 2012. Working as a public diplomacy officer, she particularly enjoyed the opportunity to work directly with the Afghan people and was always looking for opportunities to reach out and help to make a difference in the lives of those living in a country ravaged by war. We are consoled knowing that she was doing what she loved, and that she was serving her country by helping to make a positive difference in the world. She was such a wonderful woman--strong, intelligent, independent, and loving. Annie, you left us too soon; we love you and we're going to miss you so much.
-- Tom & Mary Beth Smedinghoff
Zachary Turner of Florida said that he was “utterly devastated” when he learned of his friend’s untimely death.
“She was always trying to help people any way she could,” Tuner said late Saturday. “She’d always want to help the person next to her. You know that this was always a risk but you never really expect it to happen.”
Turner said that Smedinghoff’s unrelenting positivity stood out among her many positive traits.
“The thing about her that was completely unforgettable was her smile,” Turner said late Saturday. “We had a scavenger hunt to find a picture of her not smiling. No joke, I have about 100 photos and she’s smiling in all of them.”
Turner said that he and Smedinghoff met in 2009, when the two were part of a large group that participated in 4K for Cancer, a cross-country bike ride.
“Everything you can think of that could possibly go wrong does,” Turner said of the journey spanning thousands of miles. To wit: When the group hit Colorado, they were met by day after day of hail storms. When they scaled the mountains in Estes Park, again they were pounded by hail and 45-degree temperatures.
“We just all huddled under this tiny little shelter, waiting for it to end,” Turner said, chuckling. “Still, she was so positive and helped us get through it.”
cdrhodes@tribune.com
rsobol@tribune.com
Copyright © 2013 Chicago Tribune Company, LLC
Diplomat Anne Smedinghoff killed in Afghanistan - chicagotribune.com
Rest in Peace young Lady.
