Army Sgt. William J. Normandy

Died March 15, 2004 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

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42, of Augusta, Ga.; assigned to the Army National Guard, 1st Battalion, 86th Field Artillery, from Montpelier, Vt.; died of non-combat related injuries, on March 15 in Camp Virginia, Iraq.

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William J. Normandy was well-loved at the school where he worked for many years as a bus driver and custodian. "Bill was delightful around children, he was delighted by children, and they really did enjoy being around him," said Tim Crowley, one of the two principals at Barre Town Middle and Elementary School. Sgt. Normandy, 42, of East Barre, Vt., died March 15 of a heart attack while training with members of his Vermont Army National Guard unit in Kuwait. His unit had been at Fort Dix, N.J., until it left for Kuwait. Normandy cultivated "wonderful, warm relationships" with children, said co-principal Ted Riggen. He regularly drove two busloads of students to and from school before his National Guard unit was activated in January.

— Associated Press