Arnold Duplantier II, 26

Army National Guard, Sergeant

Based: Auburn, Calif.

1st Battalion, 184th Infantry Regiment

Supporting: Operation Iraqi Freedom

Died: June 22, 2005

Baghdad (Al Rasheed Hotel), Iraq

Married, 2 children

Gender: Male

Hometown: Sacramento

High School: C.K. McClatchy High (Sacramento)

Burial: Mount Vernon Memorial Park, Fair Oaks, Calif.

An avid toy collector, Duplantier brought yo-yos and Barbies to Iraq to give to children. He planned to enlist in the regular Army once his National Guard tour was over.

Duane W. Dively, 06/22/2005

Cesar O. Baez, 06/15/2005

Six memories of Arnold Duplantier II

“

June 27, 2005

On Sunday at 1900 hours, I sat amongst my brothers in arms under the hot Iraqi sun. As the sun began its trek over the horizon, it shined directly into my face. Sweat poured from every part of my body due to the heat. Warm gusts of wind brought no cooling comfort, but rather dirt and dust upon the wet skin of my face and into my eyes. Tears welled in my eyes, flushing out the sweat and dust, but they were not caused by these. I sat there knowing the other soldiers of "Charlie Rock" were experiencing the same discomfort as I, yet we all endured it. I not only endured it, I embraced it, for I was alive and able to feel such things. Unfortunately, Sergeant Arnold Duplantier II will never again feel such discomfort, pain, or even pleasure, or joy.

On June 22nd, a sniper's bullet found its mark and took the life of this outstanding soldier; this honorable man. Arnold was the type of guy that became your friend the moment you met him. He was the kind of man everyone could look up to, and depend on. He loved his wife, and absolutely adored his little girl. He will be missed, and will never be forgotten.

His wife lost a loving husband. His little girl lost her daddy. "Charlie Rock" has lost a damn fine soldier; a brother. Though his loss is a tremendous one, I find comfort knowing his was an honorable death. He was a Sergeant of infantry, a true warrior performing his duty at the time of his death. He was not killed by the cowardly act of some lesser being setting off a bomb. He did not just happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time during a mortar attack, or catch a stray bullet. It was no accident. A skilled and professional warrior of the other side took careful aim, and squeezed the trigger. It was a well placed shot that avoided Arnold's bullet proof plate, and entered his chest, inflicting a mortal wound. If I am to die on this foreign ground, I can only hope for a death as honorable as his.

Throughout the memorial service, and while I stood in line to salute this brave man one last time, I took a good look around. I saw the hurt on people's faces. I saw sadness, but I also saw determination. Behind us in an open lot, soldiers prepared their vehicles for their next patrol. I watched as they mounted the machine guns in the turrets, and donned their body armor and equipment. Two Blackhawk helicopters lifted off and flew into the setting sun, then faded out of view. These were just a couple reminders that despite our set back, there is still a mission to complete, and we are all determined to accomplish this mission. In honor of Sergeant Arnold Duplantier II, and the others who have made that ultimate sacrifice, we must continue. Three hours later, I was on patrol.

” — Brad Whittenburg, November 21, 2010 at 2:16 p.m.

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Sources: Times research, Defense Department, iCasualties.org

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Arnold Duplantier II, 26

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Six memories of Arnold Duplantier II

Share a memory of Arnold