Army Sgt. Brahim J. Jeffcoat

Died August 6, 2005 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

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25, of Philadelphia; assigned to the 1st Battalion, 111th Infantry Regiment (Mechanized), Pennsylvania Army National Guard, Philadelphia; killed Aug. 6 when an improvised explosive device detonated near his Humvee as he was conducting convoy operations near Balad, Iraq. Also killed was Spc. Kurt E. Krout.

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Jeffcoat remembered as a helping neighbor

The Associated Press

Annie Thompson remembers Brahim J. Jeffcoat as a neighbor always willing to lend a helping hand.

If the 76-year-old was doing work in her front yard, she said, he’d walk up to her and say, “Mrs. Thompson, can I help you?” Jeffcoat, 25, of Philadelphia, died Aug. 6 near Balad, Iraq, when a bomb detonated near his vehicle. He was based in Philadelphia.

Jeffcoat, a youth counselor in civilian life, had been a member of the Guard since 1998 and a student at Temple University. At 25, he had been promoted four times.

“I think he had big plans to come back and go to school and get his degree,” said Capt. Anthony Callum, the company commander.

“Things were going good. He was a good guy.”

Sgt. First Class Rich Cassey said Jeffcoat had used hiking to provide other views of the world to those he mentored. Other soldiers “said the youth council thing really showed who he was,” Cassey added.

After a leave earlier this year, Jeffcoat spoke of how much he missed his wife and daughter.

“His family was very important to him,” Callum said. “He was the kind of guy who was very friendly and enjoyed life.”