Fallen sailor praised as being 'unique young man'

By Jaedda Armstrong

NORFOLK

A sailor who was killed Monday in northern Afghanistan was a sweet, polite young man who died doing a job he was proud of, his former co-worker said.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Tony Michael Randolph, 22, was killed when a roadside bomb detonated as his convoy passed by.

Randolph enlisted in the Navy in 2005, and in 2006, he worked in the maintenance department at the Joint Forces Staff College in Norfolk for a year.

"He was a very unique young man," said Yvonda Schlegel, a facilities director at the college. "He was someone so young and so old at the same time - very mature."

Randolph knew he wanted to become an explosive-ordnance disposal technician, working to defuse bombs, she said. He accomplished that and stopped by to visit her shortly before heading to Sigonella, Italy, to join Explosive Ord nance Disposal Mobile Unit 8.

Randolph always expressed joy about being in the military, Schlegel said. "I'm not trying to be corny, but it was so thrilling to see how excited he was to serve his country."

Randolph, who was from Henryetta, Okla., joked around with his co-workers and they would tease him for being a "country boy."

"He had extreme politeness," said Schlegel. "Always, 'Yes, ma'am' or 'No, ma'am.' "

During his short Navy career, Randolph received the Bronze Star with Valor, Purple Heart, and the Combat Action Ribbon.

"He was just a sweet young man," she said. "If you were going to have a son, he was the one you would want to pick."

Jaedda Armstrong, (757) 222-5846, jaedda.armstrong@pilotonline.com