Army Spc. William C. Yauch

Remember Our Heroes

Army Spc. William C. Yauch, 23, of Batesville, Ark.

Spc. Yauch was assigned to 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.; died June 11, 2010 in Jalula, Iraq, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked their unit with a vehicle-borne IED. Also killed was Sgt. Israel P. O’Bryan.

Yauch enlisted in August 2007 and reported to Lewis-McChord in December of that year. This was his first deployment. His awards and decorations include the National Defense Service Medal and Army Service Ribbon.

Yauch was a former student at Harrison High School and was a junior in 2003, records show.

Reports say a suicide car bomb in the central Iraqi town of Jalula killed two American soldiers and wounded six others on Friday. According to initial reports, Yauch died of injuries sustained when a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device detonated near his patrol.

Batesville High School Principal David Campbell said he was serving his first year as principal when Yauch was with the class of 2005.

“He was a friendly young man, pleasant to be around — just an all-around good guy,” he said.

“The BHS family is mourning right along with the Yauch and Rhodes families, and it always brings home the severity of the war when Batesville loses one of its sons or daughters,” Campbell said. “Today we are mourning the loss of Batesville’s son.”

“My heart goes out to the family of Specialist Yauch who made the ultimate sacrifice on behalf of our nation,” U.S. Sen. Blanche Lincoln said. “Along with all Arkansans, I am grateful for his service and for the service and sacrifice of all of our military service members and their families. I am committed to ensuring they have the full support that they need and deserve. Our grateful nation will not forget them when their military service is complete.

“More than 11,000 Arkansans on active duty and more than 10,000 Arkansas reservists have served in Iraq or Afghanistan since Sept. 11, 2001. These men and women have shown tremendous courage and perseverance through the most difficult of times. As neighbors, as Arkan-sans, and as Ame-ricans, it is incumbent upon us to do everything we can to honor their service and to provide for them and their families, not only when they are in harm’s way but also when they return home. It is the least we can do for those whom we owe so much,” Lincoln said.

Yauch was united in marriage to Mallory Nicole Rhodes on Feb. 16, 2008, at North Heights Church of Christ in Batesville.

Army Spc. William C. Yauch was killed in action on 6/11/10.