Army Sgt. Paul F. Brooks

Remember Our Heroes

Army Sgt. Paul F. Brooks 34, of Joplin, Mo.

Sgt. Brooks was assigned to the 935th Aviation Support Battalion, Springfield, Mo.; died May 21, 2009 near Baghdad of wounds sustained from an improvised explosive device. Also killed were Maj. Jason E. George and 1st Lt. Leevi K. Barnard.

Jonesboro soldier dies in Baghdad bombing
The Associated Press

JONESBORO, Ark. — An Army medic from Jonesboro serving in Baghdad was among three American soldiers killed Thursday when a bomb was set off in a vehicle at an outdoor market, his family said.

Paul Faris Brooks, 35, was on his second tour in Iraq, according to his mother, Barbara Brooks.

She said a military chaplain and sergeant arrived at her home around 4 p.m. Thursday to notify the family of the death.

The blast occurred in Baghdad’s southern Dora district, where a bomb exploded near an American foot patrol, U.S. and Iraqi officials said.

The U.S. military initially reported nine U.S. personnel were wounded in the attack. Later, the military said it could not confirm that number because the injured were still being evaluated and treated.

The attack occurred about 10:38 a.m. as the soldiers patrolled near an outdoor market, according to Army Maj. David Shoupe.

Iraqi police said a suicide bomber was responsible, but Shoupe said the U.S. could not confirm that. He said four civilians died in the blast, but Iraqi police and hospital officials put the civilian toll at 12 killed and 25 wounded.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to release the information.

Mrs. Brooks said her son was a good father to his seven children, and a good husband.

“Daddy was their idol,” she said, holding a photo of four of Paul Brooks’ children. “He had good kids. He was a typical teen-ager who grew into a family man.”

Mrs. Brooks said her son attended Jonesboro High School and obtained a GED while in the military.

In addition to his mother and father, Paul David Brooks, the slain soldier is survived by his wife, Nicole, and their children — Hayley, 14; Harmony, 11; Seth, 7; Logan, 6; Aiden, 5; Samara, 3; and Denver, 2.

Mrs. Brooks said she and her husband last spoke with their son on Wednesday.

“We talked about the mission and how they had to have a medic with them,” she said.

Funeral arrangements are pending.

Army Sgt. Paul F. Brooks was killed in action on 5/21/09.