On May 26, 2007, Spc. Erich Smallwood of Trumann, Arkansas, died from injuries suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle outside of Balad, Iraq. Erich was a member of Company B of the 87th Troop Command’s 875th Engineer Battalion based in Marked Tree, Arkansas, and served with the battalion’s Company A based in Jonesboro, Arkansas. He was the first loss for the 875th during Operation Iraqi Freedom. A 2002 graduate of Trumann High School, Smallwood was a beloved member of his community. He was selected "Mr. Trumann High School" by his classmates and was a good athlete who played football, baseball, and ran track for THS. He was also selected "Most Involved" his senior year in high school and was a member of Future Farmers of America and the Spanish Club. In the days following his death, friends and loved ones remembered Smallwood for the person he was and the examples he set.

In an interview in the Trumann Democrat, his high school principal, Jim Montgomery, recalled that Spc. Smallwood had a great sense of humor. "He liked to kid around, but he never got into any trouble. . . He was always doing something to make people laugh . . . He was a good student and a good person." At his funeral on June 4, his brother-in-law, Jon Redman of Jonesboro, noted that he was an inspiration to others. "He was a special kind of person. He always had that smile on his face. . . He was the greatest brother anyone could have. He was a friend to many people and never met a stranger. He was the heart and soul of his unit." Arkansas National Guard Adjutant Gen. William B. Wofford remembered him as "a soldier both inside and outside the wire. He wanted to be an encouragement to someone. He was a true patriot, was intelligent, and loved his fellow soldiers."

At a Memorial Day service in Trumann, just two days after his passing, Mayor Sheila Walters read a proclamation recognizing the sacrifice of Spc. Smallwood. It read: "We honor all soldiers and their commitments to this great country by their legacy of patriotism and sacrifice. We honor our very own Erich Smallwood for giving his life in the cause of freedom. He is one of the many heroes who have protected and inspired us all."