Rymer, Lyle

   Hometown:        Fort Smith

   Age:                     24

   Rank:                  Specialist: Arkansas Army National Guard - 239^th Engineer Company, 39^th Infantry Brigade

   Cause:                Died in Baghdad, Iraq, on January 28, 2005, from wounds suffered in combat

Specialist Lyle W. Rymer of Fort Smith, Arkansas, died on January, 28, 2005, in Baghdad, Iraq, in service to his country.  He was assigned to the Arkansas National Guard 239th Engineer Company, 39th Infantry Brigade based in Booneville, Arkansas.  He was 24 years old. 

According to his teachers, he was quiet kid who “took care of business” and was always steady and focused at school. Spc. Rymer was the youngest of three children.  His grandmother said that he joined the National Guard in 2003 to help provide for his family.  Bobby Sue Drake, Rymer’s grandmother, recalled him saying, “Somebody’s got to defend this country.  It might as well be me.” He is survived by his wife, LaTisha, son, Sean, and daughter, Jasmine.