Steven A. Valdez was a brave soldier who died a hero in a foreign land, but he was also a caring young man who deeply loved his family and friends and they were never far from his mind. Those who knew Lance Corporal Valdez from his childhood in McRea, a small north-central Arkansas town, remember him as competitive, energetic and fun-loving.

He graduated from Beebe High School in 2004 and, soon after, followed the footsteps of his older brother Glenn Skaggs, and his grandfather Billy Skaggs, into the United States Marine Corps. In November of 2004, Lance Corporal Valdez reported to the Marine Corps Base at Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. Serving with the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, he was deployed to Afghanistan in June as a machine gun operator with Weapons Platoon Company E. Within the year, his family received a letter from the Marines, which cited Valdez’s promotion to Lance Corporal and praised him for going above and beyond what was asked or expected of him.

While serving in Afghanistan, Lance Corporal Valdez was stationed at Camp Blessing. The Camp is located in eastern Afghanistan, in the foothills of the Hindu Kush mountains near the Pakistani border, and serves as a forward operating base for intelligence and military operations aimed to train Afghan security forces and track down al-Qaeda terrorists. He served with a platoon of Marines guarding the camp. While serving in Afghanistan, Lance Corporal Valdez and his grandfather, Billy, had an agreement; Billy would send care packages with his grandson’s favorite snacks and items from home, but he would also include phone cards with the expectation that the young marine would call his grandfather once a week.

For Lance Corporal Valdez, it was a much-needed respite from the stresses of war that allowed him to feel a little closer to home; for Billy, it was reassuring to hear his grandson’s voice and to know that he was safe and healthy. On September 26, insurgents attacked Camp Blessing with mortar, rocket-propelled grenades and small-arms fire. Lance Corporal Valdez was struck by shrapnel from a mortar while running to his machine gun post. The brave 20 year-old died shortly after. In remembering their loved one, Lance Corporal Valdez’s proud grandfather speaks of him as a "true hero." When his brother, Sergeant Glenn Skaggs, returns to Iraq, he will be concerned about his own well-being, but only in the sense that he doesn’t want to put his family through another grieving process. Despite these concerns, in a manner typical of this courageous and selfless family, he proudly states "My brother was over there for something he believed in, and I want to help finish it." Although Steven Valdez may no longer be with us, his legacy and his spirit will forever live on in our hearts. On behalf of a grateful nation, my thoughts and prayers go out his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him.

Specialist Robert D. Varga of Monroe City, Missouri, died on July 15, 2007, from non-combat related injuries in Baghdad. Rob and his wife, Ellie Madder Stone, called Little Rock, Arkansas, home and were married last year on September 5, 2006.   According to Spc. Varga’s mother, Cecilia Varga, he was in the Army to serve his country and further his education. He came from a military family: his father served in Vietnam, grandfather served in World War II, and two brothers-in-law served in Iraq. Spc. Varga joined the Army in 2003 and was originally deployed as a cook with the Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 759th Military Police Battalion. After his first deployment, he switched duties and trained with the military police. He was then assigned to the 984th Military Police Company in October 2005. He received many military honors, including the Combat Action Badge, Army Commendation Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terror Service Medal, Army Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, and National Defense Service Medal. Family members remembered him for his outgoing personality and his love of cooking and drawing.

He is survived by his wife, Ellie; his father and mother, Frank and Cecilia Varga; sisters Pamela Poelker, Carey Noland, and Amanda Reimann; paternal grandmother, Marge Varga; maternal grandparents, Glen and Charlotte Little, as well as numerous nephews and nieces.

Major Michael Taylor, First Sergeant Tom Warren, and First Class John Gary Brown will be remembered by their friends and family as men who lived lives full of passion and love. Their nation will remember them as men who dedicated themselves to protect of our freedom. The second member of the flight team was First Sergeant Tom Warren.

1st Sgt. Warren grew up in Jacksonville, Arkansas near Camp Robinson. He attended North Little Rock High School in 1976 and married his wife Doris on January 17, 1983. He raised five children, and throughout his life was very active in church. He was a Mason, including being Past Master at his lodge in Levy, which was the same position his father had held. He also served as deacon at Lifehouse Christian Fellowship, where he was an active member. Outside of church, Warren loved to golf, but nothing besides his family could match his love for aviation. Warren reached the position of First Sergeant, making him the top ranked enlisted soldier in the company. The UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter that 1st Sgt. Warren flew was what he called a Limousine service. He and his colleagues ferried others around Iraq as part of "Task Force Dragon," but they became known as the "Catfish Air." Serving their fellow soldiers, these men risked their lives everyday to make sure people got to and from dangerous areas as safely as possible.

Tragically, on January 20, 2007, he was killed when his helicopter crashed in the area northeast of Baghdad in one of the deadliest moments of the war for our National Guard. I offer my condolences to his family, and I pray that they can find comfort in the knowledge that he died serving others and doing what he loved on behalf of a grateful nation. My thoughts and prayers go out to the many people whose lives were touched by William Warren.

David L. Watson of Newport, Arkansas, died on September 22nd, 2007, in Baqubah, Iraq, from a non-combat accident in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Specialist Watson was a combat medic assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, based out of Fort Lewis, Washington. His brigade deployed to Iraq in April 2007. “He was an excellent student. He never complained, and he was easy to get along with,” recalls Ruth Jones, a retired Tuckerman High School teacher of Specialist Watson’s past.    Cathy Platt, a friend of Watson’s, said,”Some go to Iraq because they have to, David went because he wanted to. [Watson’s death] is a shock to the whole community.”     These quotes give us great insight about a man held in the highest standards by all those who knew him. “He went to Iraq not to take lives, but to save them,” said his wife, Lisa.

Pictures of Watson and his family reflect his shining light of care, love, and devotion not only to his family, but to everyone he met. His wife Lisa recalls, “David never met a stranger.” Specialist David Watson is survived in Arkansas by his mother Linda Watson, of Newport, his wife Lisa Watson and two children Dayton, 4, and Caelan, 8, also of Newport, two brothers Bryant and Derek, of Tuckerman and Newport, two sisters Christal Hill and Nikki Moore, of Conway and Little Rock, grandmother Ernestine Watson, of Tuckerman, grandparents O.C. and Velma Bobo, of Tuckerman, father- & mother-in-law Johnny and Brenda Powell, both of Newport.

Army Spc. Bobby West died defending this Nation so that others might have the same freedoms we cherish as Americans. For those who knew Specialist West, he will be remembered for the laughter he brought to the lives of those around him. He will also be remembered for acting on his conviction of defending and fighting for the values and liberties we hold so dear as Americans.

At 17, after graduating from Beebe High school, Bobby enlisted with the Arkansas National Guard. Like so many of us, he was deeply affected by the terrorist attacks that took place on September 11, 2001. However, he felt that the burden to defend our country rested squarely on his shoulders and shortly thereafter he enlisted in the Army with his older brother Patrick. Specialist West served our country in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula before being sent to Iraq. Tragically, he was serving his second tour of duty in Iraq and was killed when a roadside bomb detonated while he was on foot patrol with his unit in Baghdad on May 30. His unit was scheduled to leave Iraq in the fall. I am honored to pay tribute to a great soldier and more importantly a loving son, brother and friend. His loved ones remember how much laughter he brought to their lives with his quick wit and sense of humor. His fellow soldiers will remember him not only for the burden he carried with him to defend this Nation and bring freedom to others, but also for the competitiveness he brought to everything he did in life. His fellow soldiers tell the story of the fierce competitiveness he brought to a pickup basketball game while stationed in Egypt.

Regardless of the fact that they were playing in a tin building in 125-135 degree heat, Bobby wouldn't let his opponents leave until they could beat him. It is this sense of commitment and dedication that he brought to his military service. He also believed in what he was doing and loved being a soldier. It is people like Bobby West who make our military the strongest in the world. I am grateful for the service of Bobby West. I am also reminded of the tragic human cost of war and am saddened at the death of another Arkansas soldier. In the words of his brother, Bobby “was born to defend the greatest Nation on Earth.'' He gave his life defending the greatest Nation on Earth and we owe him and all others who have made that sacrifice an enormous debt of gratitude. Our prayers are with his father Ricky West, his mother Linda Wiggins West, and his older brother Patrick West, and we all pray for the safe return of Patrick who is serving in Iraq with the 101st Airborne Division.

Spc. Donovan D. Witham of Malvern, Arkansas, was killed by an improvised explosive device that detonated near his vehicle outside Baghdad, Iraq. The blast killed a second soldier, Staff Sgt. Sandy R. Britt of Apopka, Florida. Both men were assigned to the 1st Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division based in Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Spc. Witham graduated from Glen Rose High School in Malvern where he excelled in football and track. He was also active in other activities like Student Council, Choir, and the Drama Club.  When Spc. Witham joined the Army in November 2005, he became a military police officer and was assigned to the 82nd Airborne in that role. However, he soon took on the additional role of a paratrooper. His troop commander, Maj. Mark Lastoria, described Spc. Witham as a soldier who “represented everything good about our paratroopers. He was a volunteer amongst volunteers by not only becoming a military police officer, but also a paratrooper. He always strived to be the best at everything he did. He will be deeply missed and always remembered by those of us who had the honor to serve with him.” He was a decorated solider who received the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the National Defense Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Combat Action Badge, and the Parachutist’s Medal.

At this time of mourning, our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends. He is survived by his mother and stepfather, Martha and Richard Lanius of Malvern and three sisters, Amber Sharp and husband Steve of Magnolia; Jamie Witham of Benton; and Virginia Bennett of Magnolia. He is also survived by Julie DeBoer of Michigan, to whom his mother said he planned to propose marriage in December. The loss of this young man will be felt by us all.

Sergeant First Class Anthony Woodham of Rogers, Arkansas, died on July 5 at Camp Adder in Tallil, Iraq. Sergeant 1st Class Woodham was assigned to the 39th Brigade Support Battalion of the Arkansas National Guard based in Heber Springs, Arkansas. Woodham was on his second deployment to Iraq with the 39th,and his passing was the first fatality on the unit’s second tour. According to reports in the Arkansas Democrat Gazette, Sgt. 1st Class Woodham was affectionately known to his fellow soldiers as “Big Daddy.” He was described as being easy-going, extremely loyal, and big hearted. In the words of Chief Warrant Officer Scott Turner, “He was a father figure to his younger soldiers. He put the needs of his soldiers in front of his own.” He is survived by his wife, Crystal; three children, Patrick, Mitchell, and Courtney; and mother, Katherine. In remembering SFC Woodham his wife said that, “He was a wonderful person who cared about everyone around him. He was a good father. He told me if anything happened to him, he was ready to meet the Lord.”

His mother spoke about his 20-year commitment to the National Guard. “He was military,” she said. “His dad was military. That’s just who he was. He felt it was an honor to serve his country.” SFC Woodham was a true patriot who served Arkansas and this nation well. He will most certainly be missed.