Army Spc. Daniel J. Agami

Died June 21, 2007 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

---

25, of Coconut Creek, Fla.; assigned to the 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Schweinfurt, Germany; died June 21 in Baghdad of wounds sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle. Also killed were Sgt. Alphonso J. Montenegro II, Sgt. Ryan M. Wood, Pfc. Anthony D. Hebert and Pfc. Thomas R. Leemhuis.

---

Coconut Creek soldier killed by explosive in Iraq

The Associated Press

COCONUT CREEK, Fla. — A Florida soldier was among five killed in an explosion in Iraq, military officials said.

Pfc. Daniel J. Agami, 25, of Coconut Creek, died June 21 from injuries he suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle in Baghdad, the Department of Defense said June 25.

Agami and the others killed were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, based in Schweinfurt, Germany.

Agami was quoted in a Newsweek magazine article in April about Adhamiya, one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in Baghdad. He told the magazine an Army plan to put more soldiers on foot patrol in the capital would leave troops more vulnerable to attack.

“Walk out of here in the middle of the day without enough firepower and you have to retreat? Guess what, your whole platoon is [screwed],” Agami told the magazine.

On a recent visit home, Agami said he faced “bloody battles with insurgents. I go on daily or nightly missions raiding Iraqi homes to find weapons and bombs. The deaths of my friends have been traumatic. I lost six of my closest friends. America fights for freedom and survival for the souls of the entire world.”

Relatives and friends in South Florida remember being shocked when Agami, a music lover with a sunny personality, enlisted two years ago.

“He felt a responsibility to his country,” said his father, Itzhak Agami.

Since deploying to Iraq a year ago, he communicated with friends daily through e-mail and his MySpace page, said his girlfriend, Gina Mulligan.

“He was always happy, even in Iraq. He’d tell me, ‘Baby, it’s OK, it’s fine. Baby, I’m your warrior, I’m protecting you,’ ” Mulligan said.

Lt. Col. Doug Maddox, the Army’s casualty assistance officer, said Agami’s parents will be presented with his Purple Heart, Bronze Star and an Army commendation medal at his funeral June 26.

Agami is survived by his parents, a brother and sister.

---

Family, friends remember soldier killed in Iraq

The Associated Press

Army Pfc. Daniel J. Agami was well-known for taking pride in teaching his fellow soldiers about Judaism, many of whom told him they were unfamiliar with his faith.

In the Army, “Jewish kids often hide the fact they are Jewish,” Rabbi Denburg said. “He was the only Jew on base that was openly proud to say he was a Jew.” Fellow soldiers affectionately called him “G.I. Jew.”

Agami, 25, of Coconut Creek, Fla., was killed June 21 by an explosive in Baghdad. He was assigned to Schweinfurt, Germany.

“How can you put it in the words? He was the best of the best,” said Sandra Becker, his grandmother.

Agami kept in touch with everyone on his MySpace page, where he displayed his zany sense of humor with dozens of pictures of him in combat — and at play.

He “was the sweetest boyfriend,” said Gina Mulligan, and he called her every other day. He made sure to send her affectionate daily e-mails, too, even if they were just to say “Hi, bye, I’m OK.”

He is survived by his parents, Beth and Itzhak.

“He loved to party,” said Itzhak Agami. “He was quick with the jokes. He had 10,000 friends, and 10,000 friends thinking he was their best friend.”