Army Sgt. Steven M. Packer

Died May 17, 2007 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

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23, of Clovis, Calif.; assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y.; died May 17 in Baghdad of wounds sustained when his dismounted patrol encountered an improvised explosive device.

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Clovis High grad killed during third tour in Iraq

The Associated Press

CLOVIS, Calif. — A 23-year-old soldier who had hoped to return home to attend college was killed near Baghdad during his third tour in Iraq.

Sgt. Steven M. Packer of Clovis died from wounds he suffered Thursday after his patrol was hit by an improvised explosive device in Rushdi Mullah, the Defense Department said Friday. An al-Qaida-linked group claimed responsibility for the attack.

Packer, who graduated from Clovis High School in 2002, was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team of the 10th Mountain Division based at Fort Drum in northern New York.

Packer’s mother, Robin Davidson, said her son couldn’t wait to finish high school so he could join the Army and help fight the war on terrorism.

“I couldn’t have convinced him not to join,” Davidson said. “He wanted to go. He was excited about getting out there and helping to fight al-Qaida.”

After two tours of duty, he looked forward to coming home and attending college, something that should have happened last May, she said. Instead, Packer was subjected to a “stop-loss” order that allows the extension of active-duty deployments during times of war or national emergencies.

Packer’s stoic return to Iraq even after he had fulfilled his original commitment showed the strength of his character, said his stepfather, Mark Davidson.

“He was very good at what he did, but he was not excited about being there,” he said.

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Army IDs sgt. killed during search for missing

Army Times Staff report

A soldier was killed Thursday during the ongoing search for three 10th Mountain Division soldiers missing since they were ambushed May 12, the Army said.

Sgt. Steven M. Packer, 23, was killed by an improvised explosive device on a dismounted patrol near Rushdi Mullah, Iraq, according to a press release from Fort Drum, N.Y.

Packer was assigned to A Company, 2nd Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team.

He enlisted in June 2002 and had been assigned to Fort Drum since November 2002.

His awards and decorations included the Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Combat Infantryman Badge and Air Assault Badge.

Survivors include his mother and stepfather of Clovis, Calif.