Army Sergeant Eric Wayne Morris, 31, of Sparks, NV was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team), Fort Lewis, Washington. He died on April 28, 2005, in Tal Afar, Iraq, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his Stryker military vehicle.

SGT Morris attended Reed High School in Sparks. He enlisted in the Army in 1992 and served 9 years. Following the 9/11 attacks, he reenlisted because he felt compelled to make sure it never happened again. He served approximately 17 months in Iraq during his first deployment, spent only two months at home and then returned for a second tour. SGT Morris was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and the Gold Star for his selfless service.

SGT Morris was a beloved husband and proud dad to twin girls. A close friend remembered him as extraordinarily generous, full of life and love, and capable of making others smile during their most difficult moments.

SGT Morris was survived by his wife, Jolene and twin stepdaughters.