Baker, Zachary

Age:              24

Hometown: Conway

Rank:            Corporal: United States Army, 6th Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division

Cause:          Died in Abu Sayda, Iraq, on May 28, 2007, from wounds suffered in combat

Cpl. Zachary Baker of Conway, Arkansas was killed with five other members of the First Calvary Division based out of Fort Hood, Texas, when a roadside bomb exploded near their Bradley fighting vehicle.  His team was responding to a helicopter that Iraqi insurgents shot down north of Baghdad after two crew members radioed for help.  Both crew members died in the crash.

Cpl. Baker was 24 years old and is survived by his wife, Christina, and seven-year-old son, Andrew, as well as his mother, father, brother, sister, and other relatives.  Known affectionately to his family as "Bubba," Baker was serving his second tour of duty in Iraq.  He was originally sent to Iraq in 2005 and volunteered to go back after completing that tour.  His family described him as a good Christian man who thought about others before himself.