Bushnell, William

Age: 24

Hometown: Jasper

Rank: Sergeant; United States Army - 2^nd Battalion, 12^th Calvalry Regiment, 4^th Brigade Combat Team, 1^stCavalry Division

Cause: Died in Baghdad, Iraq, on April 21, 2007, from wounds suffered in combat

Sergeant William Bushnell of Jasper, Arkansas, died on April 21, 2007, in Baghdad, Iraq, when a rocket-propelled grenade detonated near his military vehicle.  He was 24 years old. Sgt. Bushnell was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 12th Calvary Regiment, of the 1st Calvary Division in Fort Bliss, Texas.  He enlisted in 2003 and first served in Afghanistan, then was deployed to Iraq in November 2006.  

He is survived by his parents, Wesley and Peggy Bushnell, of Mount Sherman, Arkansas.  According to his father, he “served proudly in the airborne infantry.  That’s what he wanted to do when he joined and was proud to do it.  His shoulder was hurt. . . and he went to a hospital in Kuwait.  All he could think about was getting back to his comrades in Baghdad.” 

Sgt. Bushnell was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart.  A memorial ceremony was held in his honor at Fort Bliss on May 16, 2007.