Richard Henkes honored, laid to rest

September 13th, 2006 01:00 AM

Fort Lewis paid its respects Tuesday to Sgt. 1st Class Richard Henkes, a Stryker platoon sergeant who was killed Sept. 3 in Mosul, Iraq, when an improvised bomb detonated near his armored vehicle. Henkes, 32, of Portland, leaves behind a 5-year-old daughter. Fellow soldiers recalled his kindness to an Iraqi family on the day before he was killed, when he brought his platoon’s medic to treat a young boy who was wounded in a bomb blast. Henkes was the fourth soldier from the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, to die since the brigade returned to Iraq in JulySeptember 06, 2006.

From the News Tribune

Family, Friends Honor Fallen Fort Lewis Soldier

FORT LEWIS, WASH. - Soldiers bid farewell Tuesday to a comrade who warned his family he might not be coming home. Sgt. First Class Richard Henkes, of the Fort Lewis Stryker Brigade, was killed in combat last week.

But his Portland-area family says he died doing what he believed in.

"This past weekend I had the honor and privilege of escorting my brother home," said Army Capt. Linda Bass. Henkes was her brother and fellow soldier. "It was the hardest duty I ever had to perform in my life."

Henkes' parents and family came up from the Portland to join the Fort Lewis Stryker Brigade at the memorial.

After his first four years of active duty, the 32-year-old father of a little girl joined the National Guard and then eventually re-enlisted in the Army.

Read the rest at KOMO 4

DoD identifies soldier killed in Iraq

SEPTEMBER 6: The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Sgt. 1st Class Richard J. Henkes II, 32, of Portland Ore., died on Sept. 3 of injuries suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle during combat operations. Henkes was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash.

Note: Due to problems with blogger we were unable to post news of the fallen for the last 10 days. This post is part of the update from that period.