He may not have been a native son, but when Hall County residents found out about the death of Capt. Kyle Comfort, the news stung.
Comfort, a 2001 graduate of Riverside Military Academy and a U.S. Army Ranger, was killed by an improvised explosive device during a combat operation May 8 in Afghanistan.

“He was a great kid and an asset to this school,” said Maj. Adam Carter, Riverside’s assistant commandant of cadets. “I attended his funeral (Monday), and several of his classmates were there — probably around 2,000 people turned out. He was a real special person.”
Comfort, a native of Jacksonville, Ala., was a Ranger with Company D, 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment. He was a fire support officer for the Fort Benning-based unit.

“He was always the first person to sign up for anything that was difficult and challenging — that was just his nature,” Carter said. “He was a leader from the beginning.”

Although he graduated from the academy nearly a decade ago, memories of the former cadet are still strong.

“I knew him during his entire high school career,” Gainesville resident Carol Anne Weeks said. “At the time, I was the director of cadet activities, and he was in my office every afternoon asking if there was anything that he could do. His charisma, outgoing personality and manners were always things that stood out to me.”

Even though he was just a teenager then, Weeks said there wasn’t a doubt in her mind where Comfort would end up as an adult.

“I knew he would have a career in the military,” she said. “He was the company commander during his senior year at Riverside. That means that (with the help of an adult) he was basically the caretaker of 30 to 60 high school boys. That was a big responsibility for a teenager, but he could handle it.”

Comfort earned several military awards, including a Bronze Star and Purple Heart, which he received posthumously.

In addition to other relatives and friends, Comfort is survived by his wife Brooke Comfort and their daughter, Kinleigh Comfort.

A few of Comfort’s Riverside classmates have set up a fund for Kinleigh. Those interested can make contributions through a memorial website.

“(Comfort) was a quiet professional who lived the Ranger creed,” said Col. Michael E. Kurilla, commander of 75th Ranger Regiment.

“Kyle was loved by all and will be remembered as a hero to our nation, the 75th Ranger Regiment and his family.”