Army Spc. Kendall K. Frederick, 21, of Randallstown, Md.; assigned to the Army Reserve's 983rd Engineer Battalion, Monclova, Ohio; killed Oct. 19 when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle during convoy operations Tikrit, Iraq.
HE ALMOST MADE IT
He had come home from wrenching experiences in Iraq, including killing someone for the first time and enduring the death of comrades. Although he was scared, family members and a former mentor said, he decided to return to Iraq because he loved the Army and believed in doing his duty.
While he was home on leave three weeks ago, Specialist Frederick spent time with old friends and visited cadets at Randallstown's Junior Navy ROTC program, where had been a platoon commander.
Stephan J. Strzemienski, a retired Navy commander who led the program, said he spoke to Frederick at length about the soldier's time in Iraq.
"He was telling me about his experiences over there and that it had been hard for him," Mr. Strzemienski said. "He never really knew from day to day what was going to happen, how you have to be really careful over there and that you never know one minute to the next with these car bombs. He had seen several of his friends get killed, and he had to shoot someone, and he was upset about that."
Mr. Strzemienski said Specialist Frederick was a quiet and disciplined student who looked forward to joining the Army after graduating. But after 10 months in Iraq, he had lost some of his excitement.
"He wasn't that excited about going back, but we just basically agreed that it was his duty and that it had to be done," Mr. Strzemienski said. "There was no fun in it for him. He wanted to come home. He almost made it, I guess."
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