The story of Sergeant Arthur Ray McGill is the story of a carefree and loving young man from northwest Arkansas, who was devoted to his family and always put them above all else. It is also the story of a trustworthy and brave soldier, who honorably served his nation in uniform, and ultimately gave his life in the name of freedom. Sgt. McGill spent most of his childhood in the small Arkansas town of Decatur. Those who knew him best would describe him as a quiet and patient young man who was always considerate of others and treated them with respect.

He attended Decatur High School and although he left after his 10th grade year, he went on to earn his General Educational Development diploma at the age of 17. Soon after, he joined the Arkansas National Guard, where he would serve for six years prior to enlisting in the United States Army in November of 2002. In his free time, "Ray" or "Big Country," as he was known to friends and family, had a love for archery and could often be found playing video games or reading the comic books of his favorite superhero, Spiderman. But above all, his greatest love was his family, particularly his 7-year old daughter Kaylee. Her welfare was her father’s greatest concern, and she knew that he could always be counted on to protect and care for her as best he could. Sgt. McGill reported for duty in January of 2003 and was deployed for service in Operation Iraqi Freedom. He was one of the soldiers in the initial waves of American troops into Baghdad, and served in the area until that August. Sgt. McGill returned to Iraq in January of 2005.

In explaining his decision to re-enlist for a second tour of duty to his loved ones, Sgt. McGill spoke of his feeling of being needed in Iraq, and that he was simply doing his part and was proud to do so. He would also speak of his future after the Army, when he hoped to study criminal justice, buy a home, and become a member of the U.S. Border Patrol in New Mexico. Throughout his military service, Sgt. McGill’s hard work and dependability quickly earned him the respect and loyalty of his fellow soldiers. They even began calling him "Tizzley," a combination of a teddy bear and a grizzly, which aptly described the 6'6" soldier who had a heart of gold. Though the comradeship with his fellow soldiers grew, Sgt. McGill was still a world away from his family and they were never far from his mind. While in Iraq, he had a habit of sending gifts and money back home to provide for them and spoke to them often by phone or through Instant Messenger on his computer. To make him feel a little closer to home, he also brought a CD-Rom to Iraq, which he spent a good deal of his free time enjoying; it contained over 500 issues of "The Amazing Spiderman" and was never far from his side.

Tragically, Sgt. McGill was killed on July 19 when a roadside bomb exploded near his vehicle while he was patrolling through the streets of Baghdad. Back in Arkansas, friends and family came to show their respects and bid farewell to their fallen soldier, as his flag-draped coffin was buried at Fayetteville National Cemetery. Kaylee, who had been the love of her father’s life, was presented with an American flag and her father’s dog tags, as well as the Bronze Star and Purple Heart he had earned through his courageous service to our nation. Although her father may no longer be with us, I am hopeful that these items will forever remind her of the courageous and honorable way he lived his life. Words cannot adequately express the sorrow felt in the hearts of the family and loved ones of Arthur Ray McGill, but I pray they can find solace knowing that his spirit will forever live on in the examples he set and the many lives he touched.