Robert A. Liggett dies of 'from injuries suffered in a non-combat related incident'

A 2003 Rock Island High School graduate is dead in Iraq.

Pfc. Robert A. Liggett, 23, died Tuesday of injuries 'suffered in a non-combat related incident,' the Department of Defense said Thursday. His death is under investigation, the DoD said.

His father, M. J. Liggett, of Urbana, confirmed his son's death but declined to talk with a reporter Thursday evening. 'You can call tomorrow,' he said.

The Army said Pfc. Liggett was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Benning, Ga.

At Rocky, Mr. Liggett was a member of Junior ROTC. The quotation he included with his senior picture in the 2003 yearbook was, "This above all to thine own self be true." -- Shakespeare.

Television station WTVN in Columbus Ga., home town to Fort Benning, reported that, "According to Liggett's website he loved NASCAR and often wrote his own poetry."

A poem by Robert A. Liggett:

THE EAGLE

The eagle is free.

Free to go

whenever,

wherever

in search

of food

and to fish

Without Higher authorities

saying "you can't do this

or that."

I want to be free,

Free as the Eagle on

the wind

From the Quad Cities Dispatch