Will Newgard remembered

On his MySpace Web page, Pfc. William Newgard wrote that the goal he most wanted to achieve in 2006 was to get out of Iraq. One of his greatest fears, he went on, was that he would never make it home alive to see his girlfriend.

And next to a question about where he would want to die, the solider from suburban Chicago typed, "not in ... iraq."

The 20-year-old was killed last week - three days shy of the new year - when a bomb detonated near his vehicle in Baghdad, the Pentagon announced Tuesday. Another soldier also died in the same incident.

Newgard had been in Iraq barely six months on his first tour of duty, his mother said Tuesday from her Palatine home.

"He wanted to serve the country, to do whatever he could over there," Kaki Newgard said. "I'm so proud of Will. He paid the ultimate sacrifice."

Newgard, who graduated from John Hersey High School in Arlington Heights in 2005, was in the Chicago area visiting family and friends for two weeks in December - heading back to Iraq in the early morning of Dec. 20, his mother said.

As an expert marksman, Newgard was assigned to help protect and guard high-ranking officials as they moved by caravan around the Iraqi capital, his mother said.

"The last time we heard from him was (in a telephone call) on Christmas Day," she said. "And we never heard from him after that."

She described her son as a shy but fun-loving person who engendered loyalty from friends, and who loved reading about military history and listening to country music. He had "a baby face," she added, that made him look even younger than his 20 years.

While on leave, Newgard also visited the Gray M. Sanborn Elementary School in Palatine and spoke to the children there about his life in the military.

Several children asked him about what posed the greatest danger while in Iraq.

"His answer was always running over some explosive that he couldn't see," his mother said. "How ironic that he was killed that way shortly afterward. ... My only comfort is that he may not have known, and may not have suffered."

The Palatine elementary school would send letters to parents, informing them that counselors are available for any children having trouble coping with news of Newgard's death, the school's principal, Michael Carmody said.

The MySpace page includes photos of Newgard on the hood of a Humvee in desert fatigues, clutching a rifle; others show him with his girlfriend in the United States.

The site also illustrates what his mother said was a keen, offbeat sense of humor. Next to one question about whether he plays an instrument, he writes that, yes, he did - "a 5.56mm, magazine-fed ... shoulder fired assault rifle."

The most poignant entries were posted after news broke of Newgard's death.

One says, "i cant really believe what happened ... Im in such tears i cant see right now." Another says, "When the wind hits our cheek we will remember you Will Newgard."

Kaki Newgard said she knew of her son's MySpace page but hadn't yet looked at the notes of condolence.

In addition to his mother, Newgard is survived by his father, Richard Newgard, of Arlington Heights; and his 24-year-old sister, Holly, who lives in Rockford.

From the CC Times

Spent a short time at home for the holidays

Will Newgard split time among his family, buddies and girlfriend as he celebrated his 20th birthday and the holidays home in Arlington Heights before duty called him back to Baghdad, Iraq.

Newgard, a private first class, even found time during his two-week leave to speak to Palatine elementary school students about his life since joining the Army last year and serving in Iraq for six months. He stopped by to thank the students for their packages.

On Dec. 20, he returned to duty - where he helped transport and guard high-ranking officials in Baghdad's secure Green Zone, family members said. His parents, Richard and Kaki Newgard, had been buoyed by his visit, awaiting word their son had returned. But uniformed officers instead on Friday delivered news that sunk their hearts.William, known better as Will, had been in an armored Humvee when an improvised explosive device, or homemade booby trap, exploded and killed him Friday morning local time, his mother said. Family members still overwhelmed with shock on New Year's Day said they knew little else.

"It's pretty raw," his mother said.

There is an investigation, Army officials have said.

Will Newgard's death was not among those announced on Sunday, as deaths in the Iraq war reached the sobering milestone of 3,000, according to an Associated Press count since the war began in March 2003. The Pentagon has blamed hate and revenge killings between Iraq's sects as a bigger security problem than ever.

A 2005 graduate of John Hersey High School in Arlington Heights, Will Newgard decided to join the military after high school. Both of his grandfathers served in the military - one in the Army and another in the Navy - and he took an interest in the old Glenview Naval Air Base, said his mother, a Palatine resident.

The quiet young man carried a sly grin, possessed a deep sense of patriotism and loved country music. One of his favorite songs was Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the U.S.A.," in which the singer proclaims he's proud to be an American.

Richard Newgard, of Arlington Heights, said his son always was drawn to the military. For Will, it was between "a fireman and policeman and the military," he said.

Will wanted to figure out if he wanted a military career. He attended Thomas Middle School in Arlington Heights, and graduated from the eighth grade at St. John's Northwestern Military Academy, Delafield, Wis., in 2001. He also attended criminal justice classes at Harper College in Palatine.

"He was actually kind of quiet ... pretty much honest," his father said. "He put his money where his mouth was, didn't he? Unlike some people who just talk about things, he backed it up with everything he had."

There is some solace for family members that he died serving his country - something they all take pride in.

"I knew that when he died he wanted to serve the country. That's what he wanted to do, and he was proud of that. I take comfort in that," his mother said.

In his two weeks at home in the suburbs, Will Newgard jostled his time. It was his first visit home since Easter, when he was stationed in Germany.

Family and friends celebrated his 20th birthday, which was Nov. 27. His sister, Holly, also came up from Rockford to visit.

"We just had a lot of family times, a lot of Christmas times - mostly just family times, just together times. There wasn't anything really special, except that it was special to us," Kaki Newgard said.

He also talked to students at the school where his mother works, Gray M. Sanborn Elementary School in Palatine, about his time in the 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment. The students had been kind enough to send him and other soldiers packages, and he wanted to say thanks.

He faced some tough questions in the classroom from students curious about the violence, his father said.

"His biggest fear was the IED," his father said. "And that's what we understand happened to the car he was in."

Funeral services were pending Monday, while his hometown grieved.

Parents at the school will get a letter Tuesday, when they return from winter break, informing them of his death. He also spoke to students at Thomas Middle School, his alma mater, over his trip home.

Parishioners at St. James Catholic Church in Arlington Heights, where his mother attends, learned of his death during Mass on Saturday.

From Iraq Will kept a MySpace page, and his last entry was on Dec. 24. He talks about his favorite things: "I like to chill with my friends."

He also talks of his love for girlfriend Samm, and how his fear is "not making it home" to see her.

Friends are using his My-Space page to post their poignant farewells.

"When the wind hits our cheek we will remember you Will Newgard," one says.

From the Herald

Related Link:
William R. Newgard dies of injuries from I.E.D.