Army Pfc. Keith E. Lloyd

Died January 12, 2008 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

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26, of Milwaukee; assigned to the 1st Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Hood, Texas; died Jan. 12 in Tal Afar, Iraq, of wounds sustained when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device.

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Teacher: Soldier killed in Iraq ‘found himself’ in military

By John Hartzell

The Associated Press

MILWAUKEE — A Milwaukee soldier deployed to Iraq in November has become the fourth person from Wisconsin to die there in two weeks, the Department of Defense said Jan. 15.

Army Pfc. Keith E. Lloyd, 26, died Jan. 12 in Tal Afar, Iraq, of wounds sustained when his vehicle hit an improvised explosive device, the agency said.

Lloyd joined the military as a food service specialist in March and was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, at Fort Hood, Texas, in August.

His father, Gary Lloyd, said Keith Lloyd had worked in a number of retail jobs, including a stint at a Farm & Fleet store, since graduating from South Milwaukee High School.

“He tried to find himself for a while,” his father said. “But he wanted to get himself a career.”

Keith Lloyd’s younger half brother had served in Iraq and is now stationed in Korea, Gary Lloyd said.

After talking to his brother, Keith Lloyd decided to enlist — and was glad he had, his father said.

“He truly believed in what he was doing,” Gary Lloyd said. “He was already talking about re-upping. I truly believe that he was going to make the military his career.”

John Riggins, a South Milwaukee social studies teacher, remembered Keith Lloyd as “never really [being] sure what he wanted to do.

“I think he found himself a bit in the military,” he added.

In addition to his parents and brother in the military, Keith Lloyd is survived by two sisters and three other half brothers.

His sister, Christine Piper of New Berlin, said he was involved in volleyball at South Milwaukee High School, where he graduated in 2000.

He had planned to propose to his girlfriend when he had his next leave home, expected in April, Piper said.

“He had a big heart and would do anything for anybody,” she said.

He was the 85th service member from Wisconsin to have died as a result of service in Iraq or associated with duties in Iraq since the war started.

Other Wisconsin service members killed this year were Pfc. Jason F. Lemke, 30, of West Allis, who died Jan. 5; Pfc. Timothy R. Hanson, 23, of Kenosha, Jan. 7; and Sgt. 1st Class Matthew Pionk, 30, of Superior, Jan. 9.

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Milwaukee soldier ‘believed in what he was doing’

The Associated Press

Keith E. Lloyd’s sister recently found out about a letter her brother sent to his girlfriend’s parents asking for permission to marry their daughter. They granted their blessings.

“I’m very proud of him, and I hope he knows that,” Christine Piper said. “I told him that in the last letter I sent. “I said, ‘We are part of you.”’

Lloyd, 26, of Milwaukee, died Jan. 12 from a roadside bomb in Tal Afar. He was a 2000 high school graduate and was assigned to Fort Hood.

Lloyd’s younger half brother, Thomas, had served in Iraq and is now stationed in Korea. After talking to his brother, Keith decided to enlist — and was glad he had.

“He truly believed in what he was doing,” said his father, Gary Lloyd. “He was already talking about reupping. I truly believe that he was going to make the military his career.”

He played volleyball and enjoyed Nintendo video games featuring Super Mario Brothers and the stars of the World Wrestling Federation. As he grew older, he enjoyed movies and Green Bay Packers games.

He also is survived by his mother, Cynthia Allam, and stepmother Joanne Lloyd.