Box, Jr., Hesley

Age:               24

Hometown:  Chidester

Rank:             Staff Sergeant Arkansas Army National Guard - Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 153rd Infantry;Regiment, 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division

Cause:           Killed by a car bomb in Baghdad, Iraq, on May 6th, 2004

Sgt. Hesley "Tank" Box Jr., of Chidester, was a 1998 graduate of Camden Fairview High
School.  He was as an active member of the community, a member of the Roadside Church of God
in Ozan and involved with the New Sanctuary Christian Center in Chidester.

In the words of his sister-in-law, Sherry Johnson, "Hesley was a good person, period.  He
was always giving of his time, always honest with you, always willing to help you out, always
willing to go the extra mile to help somebody out."

The relationships Sgt. Box built with his colleagues was a testament to the kind of person he
was.  With his two young sons back in Arkansas, he became a father figure for younger members of
his unit once they were deployed.  At just 24, he was a relatively seasoned veteran, having served in
the National Guard since 1997 through two previous deployments in Bosnia and Saudi Arabia.  In
March, he left for Iraq with his comrades in the 39th Infantry Brigade.

My condolences and prayers go out to Sgt. Box's wife, Alexia; his two sons Zacheas and
TaDarius; his parents, Hesley, Sr. and Barbie Box; and his brother, Tarcus Kyron Box.