Staff Sgt. Quadi Hudgins (26) was killed by enemy fire in Iraq
Published: Apr 22, 2013 @ 3:36 AM
Quadi Hudgins (26)
Date: Apr 02, 2011
Cause of Death: War Related
Location: Baghdad, Iraq
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Staff Sgt. Quadi S. Hudgins, who was serving his second tour of duty in Iraq, was killed by indirect fire Saturday during an enemy attack south of Baghdad.
The 26-year-old soldier who grew up in New Orleans enlisted in the Army in 2003. He was trained to repair radio and communications equipment. At the time of his death, he was assigned to the Regimental Support Battalion, which provides troops with logistical support.
The attack, which killed Sgt. Hudgins and Sgt. Christian Garcia of Goodyear, Ariz., comes at a time when the U.S. role in Iraq is diminishing. Forces are taking on an "advise and assist role,'' to Iraqi troops. U.S. casualties there have declined as a result: 16 U.S. troops have lost their lives in Iraq so far this year, according to icasualties.org. By comparison, 79 U.S. troops have been killed in Afghanistan.
But these deaths are a grim reminder that our troops in Iraq remain in harm's way and are still being injured and killed in service to our country. Three additional U.S. casualties have occurred in Iraq since Sgt. Hudgins' death.
Indirect fire is the term that the Army uses to describe mortar or artillery shells or rockets fired from afar. The Army didn't specify where the fallen men were located. But their unit, the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment from Fort Hood, Texas, is based at Contingency Operating Site Kalsu, about 20 miles south of Baghdad. According to recent news reports, Kalsu is still being struck by rockets.
Sgt. Hudgins was a decorated soldier as well as a boxer. He told the Ford Hood Sentinel that he became involved with the sport because he was getting into fights going to and from school in what he described as a "highly territorial'' neighborhood. An uncle told him that if he was going to fight, "I might as well do it in the ring,'' he told the Sentinel.
Iraq is clearly still a highly territorial place, and a dangerous one. He gave his life in an effort to change that.
Related Article(s): http://www.nola.com/opinions/index.ssf/2011/04/honoring_staff_sgt_quadi_hudgi.html
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