Texarkana Gazette -- When a soldier dies serving his county, it is an immeasurable gift not only of his life, but often a sacrifice of love made by those who knew him best.

Army Staff Sgt. Kenneth Jenkins, 25, a Fouke, Ark., native, was killed early Saturday morning after his Humvee was ambushed in Baghdad.

"Kenneth would have been home in November, home from Iraq," said Jenkins’ aunt Kathy Sutton, of Fouke.

Jenkins’ wife, Brandy, lives in Nolanville, Texas, near Fort Hood where he was stationed. Brandy was notified of his death a little after 4 p.m. Saturday.

Sgt. 1st Class Mary Glaze, casualty assistance officer, said Jenkins was killed by small-arms fire while conducting a checkpoint operation near Baghdad.

Jenkins enlisted July 1, 1999, and trained at Fort Benning, Ga. He toured in Bosnia, Kosovo, Macedonia and Cuba.

Jenkins’ first tour to Iraq began June 2003, and he returned home in June 2004. His second tour to Iraq began November 2005 and ended fewer than 90 days from completion.

"The only way to sum Kenneth up is that he touched every life he came in contact with. He was that special of a person," said Theresa Jenkins of her son.

A man who shared a brotherhood and generosity with everyone he bonded with, friends say, Jenkins would give someone in need the shirt off of his back.

A man who shared a brotherhood and generosity with everyone he bonded with, friends say, Jenkins would give someone in need the shirt off of his back.

"He was very dependable. He would give you anything he had," said friend Justin Jones. "We were always together doing something, going out or playing pool."

He said Jenkins enjoyed working on his car and physical fitness.

"After he got married, it was all about family," Jones said.

Brotherhood came easy for Jenkins as he maintained his close friendships from his childhood and developed new ones in the Army.

"He had some really good friends in the Army, and as soon as we met them, they were our friends, too. You could see that they looked at Kenneth just like we did," said Jones.

Jenkins was just as generous and giving with his family, watching out for them protectively.

"We all grew up close. He was like my best friend," said Stephani Richard, 24, of Texarkana, Ark., Jenkins’ sister. "He wanted to be a soldier for a long time. He wanted to protect his family and his country." Jenkins’ brother is Mack Jenkins, 30, of Fouke, Ark.

Jenkins was a decorated soldier with a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart.

Other military honors include Kosovo Campaign Ribbon, Combat Infantryman Badge, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, NCO-2 Professional Development Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, German Marksmanship Badge, two Army Commendation Medals, two Army Achievement Medals, two Army Good Conduct Medals, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal and NATO Medal.