Spc. Joseph Carl Norquist liked to work out with weights at the base and try out wrestling moves on his Army buddies. Mostly, though, he was known for his commitment. "He was a great guy, a hard-charging soldier, very reliable and dedicated, " said Michael Sadler, his friend and former sergeant at Fort Hood, Texas. "If you gave him a mission, you never had to go back and double-check to see if he'd done it. You just knew he had." The 26-year-old Norquist, a native of Martinez, Calif., was killed in Iraq on Oct. 9 when his convoy was attacked. "Joe believed in the job he was doing in Iraq. He thought it was worth it for the children, who would have better opportunities for a better life," his parents, Sue and Carl Norquist, said of their only child.

— Associated Press