Army Cpl. Gregory N. Millard

Died May 26, 2007 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

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22, of San Diego; assigned to 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.; died May 26 in Samarra, Iraq, of wounds sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle. Also killed were Sgt. Clayton G. Dunn II and Cpl. Michael J. Jaurigue.

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Paratroopers killed by bomb on patrol in Iraq

The Associated Press

FORT BRAGG, N.C. — The deaths of three 82nd Airborne Division paratroopers were announced on Memorial Day, hours after ceremonies were held on and around their Army post to remember other soldiers who died in combat.

The paratroopers from the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team died Saturday from injuries sustained when a bomb detonated while they patrolled in Iraq’s Salah ad Din province.

The division identified the victims as Cpl. Michael J. Jaurigue, 20, of Texas City, Texas; Sgt. Clayton G. Dunn II, 22, of Moreno Valley, Calif., and Cpl. Gregory N. Millard, 22, of San Diego.

Jaurique was an automatic rifleman who joined the division in August 2005. He is survived by his parents, Jose N. and Juana N. Jaurigue, of Texas City, Texas.

Dunn was a team leader described by his company commander as devoted to his soldiers. He joined the 82nd in September 2005.

Dunn is survived by his wife, Haidy C. Dunn; a 3-month-old daughter, Grace Haidy Dunn, of San Bernardino, Calif.; his father, Roy D. Dunn; his mother, Aminta Dunn, of Moreno Valley, Calif.; and a brother, Roy D. Dunn Jr.

Millard was an assistant machine gunner, who friends said knew no strangers and had a gift of gab. He came to the division in March 2005.

Millard is survived by his parents, Kevin D. and Jill Millard, of Ramona, Calif.; his brother and sister-in-law, Jason and Carolina Millard; his niece, Kaila; and his girlfriend, Lacey Martin.

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San Diego soldier killed by IED in Iraq

The Associated Press

SAN DIEGO — Army Spc. Gregory Millard had plans to ask the father of his longtime girlfriend for her hand in marriage. He also wanted to fix up a duplex he shared with his older brother and maybe even start a nightclub.

Millard, 22, was killed May 26 in Iraq’s Salah Ad Din Province, when he and two fellow paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, N.C., were killed by an improvised explosive that tore their armored Humvee apart just miles from their base.

Born and raised in the San Diego area, Millard went to junior high and high school in La Jolla, where his father opened a bicycle shop 30 years ago.

Though he was a wrestler and football player in high school, his real sports passions were cycling and roller hockey.

His family also recalled that at an early age Millard said he wanted to join the military much like his grandfather who had served during the Korean War and his uncle who was an Army Ranger. Millard enlisted in October 2004.

“He was extremely professional; everyone looked up to him,” said Daniel Marsh, who met Millard at Fort Bragg and became a close friend. “He knew the job better than anyone.”

Millard was buried June 4 at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in Point Loma on a bluff overlooking the spot on San Diego Bay where he and his older brother had spent many summer days fishing.

Millard’s family has set up a Web site, www.armymillard.com, and a foundation for donations to supply soldiers with critical safety equipment beyond the standard issue.