Army Pfc. William A. Blount

Remember Our Heroes

Army Pfc. William A. Blount, 21, of Petal, Miss.

Pfc. Blount was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, Fort Stewart, Ga.; died April 7, 2010 in Mosul, Iraq, when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device.

JACKSON — Army Pfc. Anthony Blount was looking forward to coming home next month for the birth his first child, a little girl to be named Avery Elizabeth.

However, the 21-year-old Petal, Miss., resident won't get the chance. He and another soldier died Wednesday in Iraq after the vehicle they were in hit a roadside bomb, according to Blount's brother-in-law, Nate McRae.

The U.S. military announced Wednesday that two American soldiers died while conducting a patrol in northern Iraq. The names were not immediately released, which follows Defense Department policy of withholding identities until a time after relatives have been notified.

"Anthony was one of most the hilarious people I've ever met. The guy was funny as hell," McRae said. "He was a really great spirit. And he was the last boy that could carry on his grandparents' name."

McRae said he tried to discourage Blount from the joining the Army nearly two years ago, but the Petal High School graduate was intent on serving in the military.

"He's extremely honorable," McRae said. "All of his commanding officers said he was just an amazing soldier. It's a tremendous loss."

William Blount's wife, Amanda, is eight months pregnant.

Stephen Garrard, a director at Moore Funeral Home in Petal, confirmed Blount's death but said arrangements had not been completed.

Pfc. Blount was outgoing and popular, McRae said.

"He was an amazing guitar player. He taught himself to play. He loved video games and hanging out with his friends," McRae recalled.

Pfc. Blount was serving with the 164th Infantry Bravo Company. He joined the Army roughly a year ago, his father, Billy Blount, said.

“It’s been pretty rough, a lot of our cell phones have been going off,” Billy Blount said. “It’s great, I mean, the morning after we found out... a guy from his unit who was on leave came and talked with us and cried with us.”

Pfc. Blount is survived by his wife Amanda and unborn daughter Avery (due next month), parents Billy and Kay Blount of Petal, sisters Laken Blount and Lori McRae both of MS.

Army Pfc. William A. Blount was killed in action on 4/7/10.