Kampha Sourivong killed by small arms fire

Kyle Obert and Kampha Sourivong, both 20, had been best friends since Sourivong transferred to West High the summer before his senior year. They hung out together, enlisted in the Iowa National Guard together and graduated together in 2004.

They were together in September 2005 when Company B, 1st Battalion, 168th Infantry was called to serve in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Until a few months ago, they were both stationed in Al Asad, Iraq, before Obert was moved to another base.

On Saturday, Sourivong was killed in an insurgent attack west of Baghdad. Staff Sgt. Scott E. Nisely, 48 of Marshalltown, also died in the attack.Obert's mother, Julia Dodds, 47, said she found out about her son's best friend Tuesday morning when she saw a newspaper headline that said a West High graduate had been killed while serving in Iraq.

"It just stopped me in my tracks," she said.

Obert had been nervous about leaving for Iraq, Dodds said. He became homesick easily and had never really been away from home. She said going with Sourivong was like taking a piece of home with him.

"They were good friends," she said. "(Sourivong) was a nice guy. It is very sad."

West High faculty member Barbara Greene said she saw Obert and Sourivong together often.

"He was the type of person that if you became his true friend, you were friends for life," she said. Greene helped Sourivong register for classes and settle in when he made the switch between high schools.

Dodds said Tuesday afternoon that she had not talked to her son, although she knew he had been trying to reach her. The news of Sourivong's death was a reality check, she said.

"It makes you think about the mortality of your own kid, and that things change in an instant," she said. "Iraq is so far away that many people forget that somebody's son or somebody's daughter passes away every day."

Sourivong is the son of Maliphone and Patty Sourivong of Iowa City. He has one sister and one brother. The family declined an interview Tuesday.

John Hadley's son, Josh, 23, is serving in the same company as Sourivong. John Hadley of Iowa City said he heard about the death Sunday night when the unit's Family Readiness Group called.

He e-mailed his son immediately and received a phone call from him early Monday.

"My personal reaction after I talked to Josh was still a lot of anxiety," Hadley said. "It was a fear of the unknown."Iowa National Guard Master Sgt. Duff McFadden said a casualty assistance officer is working with the Sourivong family to arrange funeral services and offer support. Military and funeral services are still pending.

Sourivong ran cross-country for two seasons and track for one season at City High before he transferred to West. Tom Carey, who was the running coach at the time, said he was proud of Sourivong for trying something new.

"In cross country and track, he seemed to step outside his peer group," he said. "He was very hard-working."

Carey said Sourivong stopped by the school after he graduated from West to show off his new military uniform.

"He was very proud," he said.

Carey, a guidance counselor at City, said his doors will be open to staff who want to talk about Sourivong's death, although many who knew him have left the school. West Principal Jerry Arganbright said teachers at West also should use the guidance office if they need it.

Greene said Sourivong's passion to serve his country was clear to everyone.

"Kampha was doing what he wanted to do," she said. "He died proudly doing what he wanted to do."

Company B, 1st Battalion, 168th Infantry was mobilized for Operation Iraqi Freedom with Company C, 1st Battalion, 133rd Infantry in September 2005. The last soldier killed in action in the 168th died in November 2004 in Afghanistan, said Lt. Col. Greg Hapgood, public affairs for the Iowa National Guard.

The Iowa National Guard said 16 of its soldiers have died on active duty since Sept. 11, 2001.

The core mission of the 1st Battalion, 133rd Infantry is to conduct close combat with enemy forces and provide security of key terrain, facilities and installations, according to the National Guard.

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