Army Captain Torre R. Mallard, Sr., 27, of Slidell, LA, was assigned to the 2nd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Hood, TX. He died on March 10, 2008, in Balad Ruz, Diyala Province, Iraq, when the vehicle in which he was traveling struck an improvised explosive device during combat operations.

Capt Mallard graduated from Salmen High School in Slidell, LA, where he excelled academically and athletically. He went on to attend the United States Military Academy at West Point, graduating in 2002 with a degree in Computer Science. While there, Capt Mallard was a member of both the football and boxing teams. Commissioned as a second lieutenant upon graduation, he served with distinction in the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, deploying twice to Iraq. He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and Meritorious Service Medal in addition to the Bronze Star Medal he had earned during his service.

Those who knew Capt. Mallard consistently described him as a man of faith, integrity, and compassion. His squadron commander, Lt. Col. Paul Calvert, called him "a tremendous leader who simply loved being a soldier."

Capt Mallard was survived by his wife, Bonita and his sons Torre Jr. and Joshua.