Army Cpl. Scott A. McIntosh

Remember Our Heroes

Army Cpl. Scott A. McIntosh, 26, of Houston

Cpl. McIntosh was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga.; died March 10, 2008 in Baghdad of wounds sustained when a suicide bomber detonated an explosive device. Also killed were Staff Sgt. Ernesto G. Cimarrusti, Staff Sgt. David D. Julian, Cpl. Robert T. McDavid and Sgt. 1st. Class Shawn M. Suzch.

Houston Chronicle -- Scott A. McIntosh wasn't sure what to do after he graduated from Cypress Creek High School in 2001.

About a year later, the Humble native decided to give the Army a try.

"He didn't want to go to college right away — I think he knew he needed to get more discipline," his father, Alex McIntosh, said, then chuckled. "When he got in, he was very excited. He loved the Army."

Cpl. McIntosh, 26, will be remembered as an American hero during a funeral service at 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. Dunstan's Episcopal Church, 14301 Stuebner Airline, his father said.

He was on his second tour in Iraq when a suicide bomber claimed his life and that of four other soldiers March 10 in Baghdad.

The five were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Stewart, Ga., the Defense Department announced.

"It's pretty simple to sum him up: He loved his family, loved the Army, he loved his country and he loved life," Alex McIntosh said. "Probably more than anybody else I've ever known. He was fun-loving and just lit up a room."

McIntosh, who had just re-enlisted, had served in Iraq for about 11 months during his latest tour there, his father said.

He was on leave during Christmas when he brought his girlfriend home to meet his family. McIntosh met the Savannah, Ga., schoolteacher while he was stationed at Fort Stewart.

"We were hoping things were moving in that direction," toward marriage, Alex McIntosh said.

Although on his second tour, McIntosh never mentioned the war or any close calls he may have had to his family.

"I think he did that out of concern for our state of mind," his father said.

He added that he wasn't sure if his son had decided to make a career of the Army.

"He was a young man with a whole future ahead of him," he said. "He lived 26 years and I don't think he ever had a bad day in his life. Nothing bothered him for very long."

McIntosh also never spoke to his family about the chance that he might not make it back from the war.

On Tuesday, McIntosh will be buried with military honors that include a uniformed honor guard and bugler.

Along with the military tradition, volunteer motorcycle riders, called Patriot Guard Riders, will rumble alongside the funeral procession and stand at attention with U.S. flags during the ceremonies.

"He would've just thought that was the coolest," his father said.

Army Cpl. Scott A. McIntosh was killed in action on 03/10/08.