Top Story: Local soldier killed in Iraq

As 2008 drew to a close, a Prince William County soldier lost his life delivering food and aid supplies in Iraq.

Army Master Sgt. Anthony Davis, 43, of Triangle was shot and killed by someone dressed as an Iraq Security Force officer on Nov. 24. Davis, an Army veteran of 26 years, had volunteered for humanitarian missions to impoverished towns and villages. He was killed delivering food and relief supplies near Biaj. A Marine was also killed in the attack.

He and his teenage daughter, Diana, had worked together to deliver soccer balls to the children of Iraq. His death hit his big family and his community hard.
It was part of a long year of hellos and goodbyes for military members and their families.

Members of the Manassas-based 266th Military Police Company left Oct. 7 for a year-long deployment to Iraq, where they will train members of the Iraqi police force and perform their doctrinal missions of area security, maneuver and mobility support.

A week later, members of the 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion’s Delta Company were welcomed home with a joyous celebration at Quantico Marine Corps base. The battalion had deployed to Iraq in March.

Earlier in the year, 200 Marines who comprised Task Force National Capital Region returned home to a hero’s welcome May 6 at Quantico after six months in Iraq.

Staff writer Julia LeDoux can be reached at 703-369-5718.