Fallen Soldier: Eric L. Snell

Sergeant Eric Snell, 35, of Trenton, N.J. died on June 18, 2007, from small arms-fire wounds received when his company came into contact with insurgents on a routine patrol in Baghdad, Iraq. He was assigned to the 61st Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division in Fort Carson, Colorado. He was a veteran of numerous combat patrols.

SGT Snell was passionate about baseball and grew up playing from Little League to his varsity days where he was a star at Hamilton High School West and later at Trenton State College. He was drafted out of high school by the Cleveland Indians in 1989. He also played football and ran track, opting for college rather than the pros. After college, SGT Snell played minor league baseball for a while and worked as a fashion model in New York City.

A college graduate and the father of two sons, Snell still chose to enlist in the Army and became a scout for the 2nd Infantry Division's 2nd Brigade Combat Team.

SGT Snell is survived by two sons.