John R. Massey dies 'of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle during combat operations'

A Higginson man has been killed on duty with the U.S. Army in Iraq.

John Massey, 29, died Saturday in Baghdad when his vehicle was hit by an improvised explosive device (IED), according to family members.

“I received a call that said he had severe head trauma,” said Amanda Massey, his wife.

The soldier with the Arkansas Army National Guard was in a patrol vehicle at the head of a convoy, family members said Tuesday.

The call had come Saturday about 4 p.m., then about 9 p.m. a white car pulled up in front of the Massey home with an Army chaplain, who informed Amanda that John was dead.

The Masseys have three children, Monica, 11, Joseph, 9, and Emily, 7.

“I feel sort of at peace because I know where he is and that gets my kids through it, too,” Massey said. “About six months ago he got saved at the Assembly of God at Higginson.”

John Massey had returned home on leave June 6, then left to return to Iraq June 22.

A check arrived in the mail on Monday, two days after Massey died, Amanda said. In it was a check for Monica and a note for her to use the money for herself, not on school clothes. The note also said he planned to buy a home for his family when he returned.

Family members described John as loving and giving.

“He was loved by everyone he came in contact with,” Amanda said.

Massey’s body is expected to arrive at Camp Robinson in North Little Rock this week, family members said.

“He loved his kids more than anything in the world,” said Christy Homsley, John’s sister. “They were number one in his life.”

From the Daily Citizen