Specialist Jeremy McHalffey was beloved by his family, admired by his friends, and respected within his community. Today, he is remembered as a hero by the grateful nation for whom he gave his life. Spc. McHalffey was a proud member of the Arkansas National Guard's 39^th Infantry Brigade. He served with the 2^nd platoon of Bravo Company, 3^rd Battalion of the 39^th, a close-knit group who quickly earned a reputation for dependability and whose soldiers were known to do absolutely anything for each other. It was obvious to those who served with him that in addition to being an outstanding soldier, he was so much more. This hard-charging Arkansan often motivated his colleagues with his determination and focus and throughout his service, held a firm belief that he was doing what was right; helping rebuild the lives of a people he had never met and bringing stability to a nation he had never known. Spc.

McHalffey was born in the small northeastern Arkansas town of Paragould but later moved to Springfield, Missouri, where he graduated from high school in 1995. Throughout his life, he had a love for the outdoors and if you ever needed to find him during hunting season, he was most likely in the woods with his father, looking for turkey or deer. At the age of 18, he joined the United States Marine Corps, and would proudly serve for four years. Upon his return to Springfield, he worked for the Greene County Sheriff's Office and later for Showcase Building Supply. In 2002, he met a dispatcher named Lacy Tindele at a firefighters' training camp. The couple quickly fell in love and their engagement soon followed. Spc. McHalffey's deep love for his country is what originally motivated him to enlist in the Marine Corps and it is also what later motivated him to serve in Iraq. As his brother Mike reflected, "He was the type of guy to volunteer. If something needed to be done, Jeremy would jump in." Spc. McHalffey initially wanted to re-enlist in the Marines but was told the process could take months. As a result, he and Lacy chose to move to Little Rock, to continue his career in law enforcement and to join the Arkansas National Guard, because he was told it had a significantly shorter waiting time. The couple chose the nearby community of Mabelvale, where Spc. McHalffey commuted to his new job as a detention deputy at the Pulaski County Jail until his deployment.
 
Lacy spent much of her time planning the couple's small wedding, which was to take place upon her fiancee's return from Iraq in a few months. Tragically, he was one of three Arkansans killed on January 4^th when their humvee was struck by a roadside bomb. Their vehicle, which was traveling as part of a convoy, was leaving an Iraqi National Guard bunker in the al-Shaab district of Baghdad. The loss of these heroes will be felt by not only their comrades in Iraq, but by the many friends and loved ones they have left behind. The courageous and selfless way in which Spc. McHalffey served in uniform brings honor to our nation. The impassioned and generous way in which he led his life, brings honor to us all. On behalf of a grateful nation, my thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of Jeremy McHalffey. Although he may no longer be with us, we must find some solace knowing that he died for a cause in which he believed. His legacy and his spirit will forever live on in our hearts.