The Department of Defense announced today the death of eight Soldiers supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. They died on April 29, 2004, in Baghdad, Iraq, while part of a dismounted improvised explosive device sweep patrol, when a vehicle approached their unit, and the driver detonated a bomb. All Soldiers were assigned to the Army’s 4th Battalion, 27th Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Armored Division, Baumholder, Germany. Killed were:

Staff Sergeant Esau G. Patterson, Jr., 25, of Ridgeland, South Carolina
Staff Sergeant Jeffrey F. Dayton, 27, of Caledonia, Mississippi
Sergeant Ryan M. Campbell, 25, of Kirksville, Missouri
Specialist James L. Beckstrand, 27, of Escondido, California
Specialist Justin B. Schmidt, 23, of Bradenton, Florida
Private First Class Ryan E. Reed, 20, of Colorado Springs, Colorado
Private First Class Norman Darling, 29, of Middleboro, Massachusetts
Private First Class Jeremy Ricardo Ewing, 22, of Miami, Florida

     The incident is under investigation.

     For further information related to this release, contact Army Public Affairs at (703) 692-2000.

Soldier from Kirksville killed in Iraq

 KIRKSVILLE, MISSOURI - A soldier from northeast Missouri was among eight killed April 29, 2004, in a car bombing in Iraq, the U.S. Department of Defense said Monday.

Sergeant Ryan M. Campbell, 25, of Kirksville, was a member of the Army's 4th Battalion, 27th Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Armored Division.

The soldiers were removing roadside bombs from a highway south of Baghdad. Campbell's mother, Mary Ann MacCombie of Kirksville, said the unit intercepted a station wagon crammed with 500 pounds of ammunition, and the driver detonated an explosive.

Campbell was stationed in Germany before he was sent to Iraq. He originally had been expected to return to the United States in April, but his duty in Iraq was extended three months.

"He's supposed to be home now," said MacCombie, recalling that her son called twice Wednesday, a day before he died. "His last words were, 'I'll be back in July.'"

Campbell joined the National Guard along with his best friend, Brendan McEvoy, several years ago. The pair enlisted in the Army in February 2002.

MacCombie said Campbell was an avid outdoorsman and a talented drummer who tried to assemble a band during his time in Germany. He graduated from Truman State University in Kirksville and planned to attend graduate school after completing his military service.

A memorial service will be Friday at Mary Immaculate Catholic Church in Kirksville. A specific time has not been set. Campbell will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

Other soldiers killed in the attack were Staff Sergeant Esau G. Patterson Jr., 25, of Ridgeland, South Carolina; Staff Sergeant Jeffrey F. Dayton, 27, of Caledonia, Mississippi; Specialist James L. Beckstrand, 27, of Escondido, California; Specialist Justin B. chmidt, 23, of Bradenton, Florida; Private First Class Ryan E. Reed, 20, of Colorado Springs, Colorado; Private First Class Norman Darling, 29, of Middleboro, Massachusetts; and Private First Class Jeremy Ricardo Ewing, 22, of Miami, Florida.

On April 29, 2004, Sergeant Campbell was killed in action in Baghdad, Iraq, while supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. A member of C Battery, 4th Battalion, 27th Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Armored Division out of Baumholder, Germany, Sergeant Campbell and seven other soldiers were part of a dismounted improvised explosive device sweep patrol, when a vehicle approached their unit and the driver detonated a bomb.

A native of Kirksville, Missouri, and graduate of Truman State University, Sergeant Campbell was 25 years old and is survived by his mother, Mary Ann McCombie of Kirksville, Missouri; his sister, Brooke Campbell of Atlanta, Georgia; and his father, Mark M. Campbell of Fairfax, Virginia. Sgt. Campbell will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery on Tuesday, May 11 at 11 a.m.

 Photo Courtesy of Holly, August 2005

Photo Courtesy of Tom Gugiluzza-Smith: 29 April 2007