05/25/2026
The following is a list of Arkansas National Guard Soldiers who have lost their lives overseas since September 11, 2001. A large number have also lost their lives due to su***de. We should all be checking on one another.
1. SFC William W. Labadie
October 8th, 1958 - April 7th, 2004
Bauxite, AR
E Troop, 151 Cavalry, 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team
Labadie lost his life to a rocket attack on Camp Taji, Iraq, April 7th, 2004.
2. CW4 Patrick W. Kordsmeier
July 8th, 1954 - April 24th, 2004
NLR, AR
39th Support Battalion, 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team
An early morning mortar and rocket attack on Camp Taji, Iraq, claimed his life, along with three of his fellow Soldiers, on April 24th, 2004.
3. CPT Arthur L. Felder
October 17, 1967 - April 24th, 2004
Lewisville, AR
39th Support Battalion, 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team
An early morning mortar and rocket attack on Camp Taji, Iraq, claimed his life, along with three of his fellow Soldiers, on April 24th, 2004.
4. SSG Stacey C. Brandon
April 28th, 1968 - April 24th, 2004
Hazen, AR
39th Support Battalion, 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team
An early morning mortar and rocket attack on Camp Taji, Iraq, claimed his life, along with three of his fellow Soldiers, on April 24th, 2004.
5. SSG Billy J. Orton
September 10th, 1962 - April 24th, 2004
Humnoke, AR
39th Support Battalion, 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team
An early morning mortar and rocket attack on Camp Taji, Iraq, claimed his life, along with three of his fellow Soldiers, on April 24th, 2004.
6. SGT Kenneth A. Melton
November 24th, 1973 - April 25th, 2004
Westplains, MO
3rd Battalion, 153rd Infantry, 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team
Melton’s life was taken on April 25th, 2004, when his military vehicle was hit by an Improvised Explosive Device and Small Arms Fire, while traveling in a convoy from Baghdad, Iraq.
7. SSG Hesley Box JR.
January 29th, 1980 - May 6th, 2004
Nashville, AR
1st Battalion, 153rd Infantry, 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team
Hesley lost his life at the age of 24, when a car bomb detonated near his guard post in Baghdad, Iraq.
8. SFC Troy L. Miranda
September 17th, 1959 - May 20th, 2004
Wickes, AR
1st Battalion, 153rd Infantry, 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team
Miranda’s life was taken on May 20th, 2004, when a gr***de was thrown near his foot patrol in Baghdad, Iraq.
9. SGT Russell L. Collier
April 28th, 1956 - October 3rd, 2004
Harrison, AR
1st Battalion, 206th Field Artillery, 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team
Collier gave his life during an attack by Small Arms Fire in Taji, Iraq, while trying to save a fellow Soldier. Collier was posthumously awarded the Silver Star for his actions.
10. SGT Ronald W. Baker
June 7th, 1970 - October 13, 2004
Cabot, AR
39th Support Battalion, 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team
Baker died in Landstuhl, Germany, from injuries sustained on October 7th, 2004, in Taji, Iraq, when a Vehicle Bourne Improvised Explosive Device detonated near his patrol vehicle.
11. SGT Michael A. Smith
October 16th, 1980 - November 26th, 2004
Camden, AR
1st Battalion, 153rd Infantry, 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team
Smith died at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., from injuries sustained in Baghdad, Iraq, on November 7th, 2004, when he was attacked by Small Arms Fire.
12. CPL Jimmy D. Buie
December 3rd, 1961 - January 4th, 2005
Floral, AR
3rd Battalion, 153rd Infantry, 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team
Buie died, along with two of his fellow Soldiers, when an Improvised Explosive Devise detonated near his military vehicle in Taji, Iraq.
13. SPC Joshua S. Marcum
August 27th, 1971 - January 4th, 2005
Evening Shade, AR
3rd Battalion, 153rd Infantry, 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team
Marcum died, along with two of his fellow Soldiers, when an Improvised Explosive Devise detonated near his military vehicle in Taji, Iraq.
14. SPC Jeremy W. McHalffey
October 29th, 1976 - January 4th, 2005
Mabelvale, AR
3rd Battalion, 153rd Infantry, 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team
Mchalffey died, along with two of his fellow Soldiers, when an Improvised Explosive Devise detonated near his military vehicle in Taji, Iraq.
15. SPC Lyle W. Rymer II
October 15th, 1980 - January 28th, 2005
Roland, OK
239th Engineer Company, 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team
Rymer’s life was taken by Small Arms Fire from Insurgent Forces in Baghdad, Iraq, on January 28th, 2005.
16. SSG William T. Robbins
September 15th, 1973 - February 10th, 2005
Beebe, AR
Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team
Robbins died at Camp Taji, Iraq, on February 10th, 2005, of non-combat related injuries.
17. SPC Derek James Plowman
December 19, 1985 – July 20, 2006
Everton, AR
Battery C, 1st Battalion, 142nd Fires Brigade
Plowman died of non-combat related injuries on July 20, 2006 in Baghdad, Iraq.
18. SFC John Gary Brown
October 24, 1963 - January 20, 2007
Little Rock, AR
Company B, 185th Aviation Regiment, 77th Aviation Brigade
SSG Brown was one of 12 Guardsmen who died on January 20, 2007, when a US Forces UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter went down to enemy fire northeast of Baghdad. Coalition Forces immediately responded and secured the scene, but all twelve American Soldiers aboard the aircraft had been killed in the incident.
19. MAJ Michael Vernon Taylor
December 27, 1966 - January 20, 2007
North Little Rock, AR
Company B, 185th Aviation Regiment, 77th Aviation Brigade
MAJ Taylor was one of 12 Guardsmen who died on January 20, 2007, when a US Forces UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter went down to enemy fire northeast of Baghdad. Coalition Forces immediately responded and secured the scene, but all twelve American Soldiers aboard the aircraft had been killed in the incident.
20. SGM William Thomas Warren
September 24, 1958 - January 20, 2007
North Little Rock, AR
Company B, 185th Aviation Regiment, 77th Aviation Brigade
SGM Warren was one of 12 Guardsmen who died on January 20, 2007, when a US Forces UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter went down to enemy fire northeast of Baghdad. Coalition Forces immediately responded and secured the scene, but all twelve American Soldiers aboard the aircraft had been killed in the incident.
21. SGT Erich S. Smallwood
May 20, 1984 – May 26, 2007
Trumann, AR
Company B, 875th Engineer Battalion, 87th Troop Command
SPC Smallwood died near Balad, Iraq, on May 26, 2007, of wounds sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle. Smallwood was a member of the Marked Tree based, Company B, of the 875th, but was serving with the Jonesboro based Company A during the deployment.
22. SGT John Ray Massey
May 15, 1978 – July 14, 2007
Higginson, AR
Battery C, 2nd Battalion, 142nd Fires Brigade
Massey died as a result of injuries sustained when his vehicle was hit by an improvised explosive device during combat operations in Baghdad, Iraq on July 14, 2007. Massey had volunteered to deploy with Ozark, AR's Battery C, at the completion of his first tour in Iraq with Searcy, AR's Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.
23. SFC Anthony Woodham
September 22, 1970 – July 5, 2008
Rogers, AR
1st Squadron, 151st Cavalry Regiment, 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team
Woodham died on July 5, 2008 while serving at Camp Adder in Tallil, Iraq with the 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team on the brigade's second deployment to Iraq. His death was non-combat related. Woodham was assigned to Company D, 39th Brigade Support Battalion, 39th Brigade Combat Team from Heber Springs. At the time of his death, he was attached as a vehicle maintenance supervisor with the 1st Squadron, 151st Cavalry Regiment. This was SFC Woodham's second deployment with the Arkansas Army National Guard.
24. SGT James Clay
July 16, 1983 – November 13, 2008
Mountain Home, AR
2nd Battalion, 153rd Infantry Regiment, 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team
Clay died at the age of 25 in Anbar Province, Iraq, of injuries sustained in a vehicle accident. Clay was a member of the 87th Troop Command's 224th Maintenance Company from Mountain Home, but was attached to the 2nd Battalion, 153rd Infantry Regiment, 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team from Batesville during the deployment.
