|
| Age: |
|
31 |
| Hometown: |
Oklahoma City, OK
|
| Date of Death: |
8/11/2007 |
| Incident Location: |
Arab Jabour, Iraq |
|
|
| Branch of Military: |
|
Army |
| Rank: |
Staff Sgt. |
| Unit: |
1st Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantr |
| Unit's Base: |
Fort Stewart, Ga. |
|
|
Even as a youngster, William D. Scates was honing his skills to someday become a soldier. He was a Boy Scout, rising to Eagle Scout, and he also was a member of the Young Marines and the Explorers.
"When he was a little boy," said Moreana Whitson, his mother, "he was always drawing pictures of soldiers. That's all he ever wanted to be."
Scates, 31, of Oklahoma City, was killed Aug. 11 by a bomb blast in Arab Jabour. He was assigned to Fort Stewart and was on his third tour in Iraq.
Whitson said the same instinct to be protective of his two sisters when he was a boy drove Scates to protect his country as an adult. "He always felt a sense of duty," Whitson said. "He was a hero to all of us."
He joined the Army National Guard and later enlisted in the active Army. "He knew how dangerous it was," Whitson said. "He was a little afraid this time. He kind of had a feeling that he might not make it back this time, but he was a brave guy and he loved his country," Whitson said.
He also is survived by his wife, Raquel, and two daughters, Jade, 9, and 7-month-old Kendra.
|
 |
Obituary also posted in:
|
|
|
E-mail to a friend