The town of Lincoln, Arkansas, in the northwest part of our state, lost its first casualty to the war in Iraq on August 22, 2007, when Specialist Tyler R. Seideman was killed in a helicopter crash. He was only 20 years old.  Spc. Seideman joined the Army after his best friend, Logan Biswell, enlisted a few years ago. Although they were assigned to different units, both were sent to Iraq and Spc. Seideman served with the 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division based in Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.

Spc. Seideman was one of 14 other Americans killed aboard a Blackhawk Helicopter that suffered mechanical problems and crashed in Northern Iraq. There were no survivors.  Tyler was always a popular young man in his town of Lincoln. He was considered a good athlete and played both football and baseball for his hometown team, the Lincoln High School Wolves. His former coach remembered him as a leader known for his fighting spirit.

In an interview with the Arkansas Democrat Gazette, former Lincoln High coach Mike Guthrie said that he “was a hard worker and a good kid. He stuck with it during lean times when we weren’t very good, but he was a good athlete who played both ways and gave it everything he had.”  t his funeral, friends remembered him as the kind of guy that “would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it.” Others mentioned that he would always joke around or would be quick with a smile. Another high school friend called him “a gentleman and a great role model.”   Spc. Seideman was given a full military funeral and was buried at the National Cemetery in Fayetteville. He is survived by his parents William and Lee Ann Seideman of Lincoln and his sisters Kiera and Kristen. Our thoughts and prayers will continue to be with the Seidemans and the community of Lincoln during this difficult time.