Joshua M. Boyd

Monday, March 19 2007 @ 05:31 AM EDT

News & Observer -- A soldier based at Fort Bragg died Wednesday in Houston, more than a week after he was wounded in an explosion while in combat in Iraq.

Sgt. Joshua M. Boyd, 30, of Abilene, Texas, was injured in Samarra, about 60 miles northwest of Baghdad. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division.

His death brings to seven the number of soldiers killed in the March 5 explosion, which accounts for the largest single-day loss of life for the 82nd Airborne in the Iraq war. The others were Spc. Ryan M. Bell, 21, of Colville, Wash.; Staff Sgt. Justin M. Estes, 26, of Sims, Ark.; Pfc. Cory C. Kosters, 19, of Woodlands, Texas; Spc. Justin A. Rollins, 22, of Newport, N.H.; Sgt. Andrew Perkins, 27, of Northglenn, Colo.; and Staff Sgt. Robert M. Stanley, 27, of Spotsylvania, Va.

Boyd joined the army in September 1997 as an infantryman and was honorably discharged when he completed his term of service.

He rejoined in April 2002.

He was reclassified as a combat medic in 2005 and completed medical training at Fort Sam Houston in Texas. He completed the Basic Airborne Course last February at Fort Benning, Ga. He reported to the 82nd Airborne in March 2006 as an ambulance driver and was designated as a trauma specialist six months later.

After he was injured in the explosion, he was brought back to the Brooke Army Medical Center in Houston for treatment. In a statement, Boyd's family thanked the hospital staff for the care he was provided.

"Doc Boyd never complained, and his good spirits always motivated the rest of us when we were down," said Spc. Lee Wolf of Company C, 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment. "His maturity and life experiences were a huge asset to all the guys in C Company."

He is survived by his parents, Robin and Tonya Boyd of Abilene. A memorial service will be held for him by his unit in Iraq.

2 comments

http://iraq.pigstye.net/article.php/BoydJoshuaM