Sergeant First Class Richard Henkes, 32, of Portland, Oregon, was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiments, 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division (Stryker) out of Fort Lewis, WA. He died September 3, 2006, of injuries sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle during combat operations in Mosul, Iraq. For his sacrifice, SFC Henkes was awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star.

SFC Henkes grew up in Oregon and attended Clackamas High School where he wrestled, ran track and played in the band. His passion, however, was snowboarding. Shortly after graduation in 1992, he enlisted in the Army. SFC Henkes was part of a military family – his father was Air Force and both his grandfathers were Army and served in World War II.

“He loved what he was doing, and he was very, very good at what he did,” his sister, Army Major Linda Bass said. “He believed he was doing something for the greater good.”

SFC Henkes is survived by his daughter, Isabel and his parents, Richard and Karen.