Army Spc. Joshua M. Pearce, 21, of Guymon, Okla.; assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, Fort Wainwright, Alaska; killed Feb. 26 when an improvised explosive device detonated near his Stryker military vehicle during patrol operations in Mosul, Iraq.
“Oklahoman Killed When Explosive Device Hits His Army Vehicle”
GUYMON, Okla. (AP) An Army vehicle rolled over an explosive device in Iraq, killing a 21-year-old Oklahoma soldier.
Heidi Barncastle confirms that Joshua Pearce died Sunday near Baghdad. Two other American soldiers also were killed.
Barncastle says her brother had an unbelievable personality, and would make everyone in a room laugh and smile.
Pearce's older brother -- Sergeant Jeremy Pearce -- also is in the Army serving in Iraq and will accompany his brother's body home.
The family will try to persuade Jeremy Pearce not to return to Iraq, but Barncastle says she doubts he will listen.
No funeral arrangements had been made, but Barncastle said Joshua Pearce wanted to be buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
Pearce was a 2003 graduate of Guymon High School. He was a letterman as a pitcher on the baseball team and left for boot camp right after graduation.
AND THIS:
“Governor Signs Funeral Protest Bill into Law”
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Governor Brad Henry signs a bill into law that restricts when and where people can protest at funerals.
The new law goes into effect immediately and sets the stage for a possible clash between law enforcement and members of a Kansas church who have picketed the funerals of Oklahoma soldiers.
The measure was given final approval by the state House this week. The new law will be in force when the family of Army Specialist Joshua Pearce gathers on Tuesday for funeral services in the Oklahoma Panhandle city of Guymon.
Pearce was killed in Iraq on Sunday.
House members hurriedly approved the Senate-passed funeral protest bill and sent it to Henry for his signature to challenge members of the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kansas.
The church members claim soldiers are being struck down by God for fighting for a country that harbors homosexuals.
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