 Pine Bluff Commercial -- LITTLE ROCK - An improvised bomb has taken the life of an Army sergeant from Arkansas serving in Iraq, the Defense Department says.
Sgt. Freeman L. Gardner Jr., 26, of Little Rock, died Thursday in Baghdad from injuries he suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his unit while he was on combat patrol, the Pentagon said.
 Gardner was with the 18th Engineer Company, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division out of Fort Lewis, Wash. He was serving his first tour of duty in Iraq and had been there since last June, according to Joseph Piek, a spokesman for Fort Lewis.
Gardner's unit is expected to return home this June or July,
Gardner entered the Army on June 9, 2004, and arrived at Fort Lewis the following Dec. 30, Piek said. Gardner was a signal systems support specialist whose duties included helping maintain or supervise battlefield communications systems.
Gardner had been decorated several times. His decorations included the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Army Achievement Medal and the Army Service Ribbon.
Gardner graduated from high school in 1998 and was married. Piek said he did not know the name of Gardner's wife's name and whether they had any children. Piek said a memorial service at Fort Lewis would probably be scheduled for later this week.
Gardner was the fourth soldier from Fort Lewis to die in Iraq during the past 10 days, all from different units and killed in separate incidents. He was the 94th service member from Fort Lewis to die in the Iraq war.
Gardner was the 42nd Arkansas soldier killed in the Iraq war. |
I would like to say thank you for your service and sacrifice for our Country. And to your family and loved ones, I wish to extend my deepest sympathy.
A grateful citizen