R.I.P. Sgt. Aaron M. Arthur

Army Sgt. Aaron M. Arthur
Died March 08, 2010 serving during Operation Iraqi Freedom

25, of Lake City, S.C.; assigned to the 203rd Brigade Support Battalion, attached to the 1st Battalion, 10th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Benning, Ga.; died March 8 north of Al Kut, Iraq, of injuries sustained during a vehicle rollover. Also killed was Spc. Lakeshia M. Bailey.

(The following was taken from www2.scnow.com of March 11, 2010) LAKE CITY — A Lake City soldier has died of injuries he received when a vehicle rolled over north of Al Kut, Iraq, according to a U.S. Department of Defense release issued Wednesday.

U.S. Army Sgt. Aaron M. Arthur, 25, died Monday, leaving his hometown saddened.

Arthur graduated in 2003 from Lake City High School where he played baseball and football and was an active member of the Junior ROTC.

Lake City High football coach Matt Apicella said Arthur was an incredible young man and his passing is a huge loss to the community.

“He was such a hard worker,” Apicella said. “He always kept in touch and came by the weight room in the summers to let us know how he was doing.”

Arthur joined the army in November 2003, five months after he graduated from high school. He arrived in Fort Benning in March 2004.

Sgt. Maj. Northern Miller, Lake City High School ROTC instructor, said Arthur decided early on he was serious about joining the army.

“At 14, 15, 16 you there’s a lot of playing going on. Aaron didn’t do a lot of playing,” Miller said. “He was always serious about what he was doing.”

A heavy vehicle driver for the Army, Arthur told Miller he was hoping to advance his military career by becoming a drill sergeant.

T.J. Singletary, Arthur’s classmate and teammate, said he was shocked to hear the horrible news of his death but has many fond memories of his high school friend.

“He had a good attitude – loved to be around a good crowd,” Singletary said.

Singletary also said he remembers Arthur was artistically gifted and drew portraits of people and cities.

He said he learned Tuesday about Arthur’s death, which shocked him after a long period of not hearing from his high school friend.

“My girlfriend told me about it,” he said. “I was like, ‘What? Aaron Arthur?’”

As a six-year veteran in the Army, Arthur received many awards and ribbons including two Army Good Conduct Medals, an Overseas Service Ribbon and a Combat Action Badge.