Army Staff Sgt. Don S. McMahan

Died April 9, 2004 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

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31, of Nashville, Tenn.; assigned to 1st Battalion, 94th Field Artillery, 1st Armored Division, in Baumholder, Germany; killed April 9 when individuals using rocket-propelled grenades and small-arms fire attacked his convoy in Baghdad.

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Staff Sgt. Don Steven McMahan nearly made it home from Iraq. But redeployment orders came as the plane carrying his Army division was ready for takeoff, and the convoy carrying them back into action came under fire. McMahan, 31, of Nashville, Tenn., was killed April 9. He was based in Germany. McMahan had a rough time in high school before graduation, and military life proved better because "it provided structure and discipline in his life," said his stepmother, Cindy McMahan. McMahan was pursuing a college degree while serving, said his father, also named Don McMahan. He had been promoted recently and planned to retire after 20 years with the service, his father said. Besides his parents he is survived by his wife, Shelba McMahan, and children Seth, 10, Evan, 7, and Sarah Elizabeth, 4.

— Associated Press