‘He was the most big-hearted kid you’ve ever met’

Austin Staggs’ nieces and nephews would push each other out of the way to talk to their uncle on Skype, hoping to be the first in front of the screen, said Staggs’ stepmother, Kelly Dunavin.

Staggs was looking forward to seeing his family again on his birthday, Jan. 11 — which would have been 1-11-11, his grandmother, Marion Buckner, told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

“He was the most big-hearted kid you’ve ever met,” Staggs’ father, Byram Staggs, told The Dallas Morning News.

Staggs, 19, of Senoia, Ga., was among six soldiers killed by an Afghan police trainee in Nangarhar province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to Fort Campbell, Ky. He graduated from North Hills Private School in Millsap, Texas, in 2008.

The soldier and his wife, Sheena, have a 2-year-old son, Kallen.

Buckner said Staggs had tried to call his mother on Thanksgiving but had to leave a message. His mother and stepfather were out doing one of Staggs’ own favorite things to do when he was home: hunting. He also enjoyed fishing.

His mother was devastated that she missed the call, but Buckner said she comforted her: “You’ve got his voice on your phone now. You can listen to him anytime you want.”

Proceeds from the PFC Austin G. Staggs bracelet will be donated to Legacies Alive.