Army Staff Sgt. Michael D. Moody Jr.

Died June 23, 2007 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

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31, of Richmond, Va.; assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Benning, Ga.; died June 23 in Baghdad of wounds sustained when his unit was attacked by insurgents using an improvised explosive device and small-arms fire. Also killed were Sgt. Chris Davis and Pvt. Shane M. Stinson.

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Family remember soldier killed in Iraq

The Associated Press

One of Army Staff Sgt. Michael D. Moody Jr.’s proudest days was his recent promotion to staff sergeant, one step above his father’s rank before the elder Moody’s return to civilian life.

“I used to say: ‘I’m the sergeant, I’m in charge,’ ” said Michael D. Moody Sr. “When he made E-6 he said, ‘Dad, now I’m in charge.’ ” Moody, 31, Richmond, Va., was killed June 23 by an explosive and small-arms fire in Baghdad. He was assigned to Fort Benning, Ga.

He graduated high school in 1994 and enlisted in 1997. It was something family friend Alton Mason knew Moody always wanted: “His father was in the Army, and what his father did, he wanted to do.”

He was serving his third combat deployment in Iraq and had done a tour in Bosnia. He also is survived by a daughter, Sabreeyah Moody, 6, and a son, Malik Goodwyn, 2.

“He really was proud of his job and proud to serve,” said his mother, Connie Moody.

His father remembers a talk after Moody’s first tour in Iraq.

“I said, ‘Son, you know, that’s history,’ ” Michael Sr. recalled.

“They may not know your name, but you’re going to be in the history books.”