Joshua (William J.) Rechenmacher has services ahead of burial at Arlington

ORANGE PARK, FL -- Hundreds gathered in Orange Park to honor a soldier killed in his third tour of duty in Iraq.

24-year-old specialist William Joshua Rechenmacher died in Baghdad just over a week ago. A bomb exploded near his vehicle during combat operations.

Rechenmacher's body was flown into NAS Jax Friday.

Family members said burying their son was an incredibly heartbreaking experience for them, but it also was a proud one.

William Rechenmacher's family liked to call him by his middle name, Joshua.

Joshua was a lot of things: a father, a son, and a big brother. Kathrinne Rechenmacher is his 8-year-old sister.

"He would play with me all the time, whenever I was like a baby, and like 2 and 3. But he didn't come to our house that much. He was busy in the war," said Kathrinne.

That's because Josh was also a soldier.

"I can't express it, he just knew what we were doing in iraq was the right thing. And he knew there was a duty to be done over there. He enjoyed doing that duty," said David Rechenmacher, Joshua's Uncle.

David Rechenmacher says Josh enjoyed it so much, he volunteered to go over this last time.

"It was his choice, we're proud of his decisions and that, like I said, he knew there was a duty over there, and he wanted to do his duty."

Joshua didn't make it home alive.

"I wasn't expecting him to be killed. And what I heard from my mom and dad, was that he was the strongest guy in the army. I'm really proud of him. He gave up, well he didn't give up, but he died [doing] What he loved to do. And he died wanting to give us freedom," said his younger sister Kathrinne.

Now everyone is giving Josh a soldier's goodbye.

"It's just overwhelming. Just overwhelming. He was a great soldier," said Bobbi Kindred, Joshua's grandmother.

"I loved him very much. Very much. I just want him back," said Kathrinne.

Rechenmacher's name will be engraved into the Veteran's Memorial Wall because, like all the other soldiers listed there, he died fighting for his country.

The family says Joshua will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

From WJXX 25

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