Army Sergeant Robert Billings

Army Sergeant Robert John Billings, 30, of Clarksville, Virginia, was a team leader assigned to Bronco Troop, 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. He died on October 13, 2012, in Spin Boldak, Afghanistan, from wounds sustained when an improvised explosive device struck his vehicle during a patrol.

Robert was born April 22, 1982, in Oxnard, California, and grew up in Morley, Michigan. He graduated from Morley Stanwood High School in 2001. He entered the Army as an infantryman in 2006, served at several installations and deployed to Iraq in 2009–2010. When noncommissioned officers were needed for the Afghanistan deployment, Robert volunteered. He received the Bronze Star Medal and Purple Heart posthumously.

His commander described Robert as a “fierce warrior, competent leader, faithful husband, loving father and loyal friend”—a quiet professional who gave everything to his family, the Army and his country.

SGT Billings was survived by his wife, two sons and two daughters.