BY JOYCE GODWIN

HERALD DEMOCRAT

They expected to come home and hug their loved ones. They knew the dangers, but accepted the job anyway. Their desire to serve was greater than their fear of what might happen.

The bodies of five soldiers from the Texoma area returned home from the war on terror to grieving families and a grieving community. Each had told his family he was in the military because he thought it important, and while he didn't want to die, he was prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice. They died with honor in defense of their country.

Sgt. Michael Luke Boatright -- died Dec. 4, 2004 -- he was 24

Military officials reported he was struck by an improvised explosive device in Baghdad. He was assigned to the 20th Engineer Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood.

His high school sweetheart, Desty, was his wife and they had three children, Colton, Tanna and Zoie, who were then 7, 5 and 4, respectively. Sgt. Boatright's mother, Candace Sons, lives in Blue Ridge and his father, Michael Boatright, lives in Denison.

Charles Boatright of Frisco spoke for the family at the time of the incident and described his nephew as a career soldier for the Army. He had just re-enlisted for another four years and had decided to make the army his career. He joined the Texas National Guard in 1998 and decided sometime before Sept. 11, 2001, to go full time.

Sons described her son as a soldier proud of his army values which were loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity and personal courage. "His smile, alone, could light up a room," she said. "I know him well enough to know he would rather pay the ultimate price himself than for someone he was responsible for to do that. He told me if the worst should happen, to not blame the military and to not be angry because he would have died with honor, defending his country."

Charles Boatright said Sgt. Boatright was proud of the job he was doing and his mission with the U.S. Army. "He told his family, people in the U.S. don't get to see the happy faces that run up to soldiers and say thank you because they're free for the first time in their lives," he said. "That news never makes the air waves." Sgt. Boatright expressed frustration to his family because he felt the true story of what's happening in Iraq is not getting through to the people at home.

"Luke was a soldier. He was proud to be representing the U.S., proud of his country and proud of his president," Charles said.

Sgt. James P. Muldoon -- died June 26, 2006 -- he was 23

He left behind his wife, Ashlee, and daughter, Pyper, then 2. He was a 2001 Bells High School graduate.

Sgt. Muldoon was taken in battle as his unit was conducting a search for insurgents who were reported to be living in a residential area. The stairway needed to be cleared for unit members to move to the second floor. The sergeant could have sent others to do it, but he led the advance himself. He was shot while on the staircase in the leg and side.

One bullet found an artery, and although he was taken to a hospital from the site of the conflict, he lost too much blood from the wound and there was little that could be done for him by the time he reached the hospital. "He bled to death," Ashlee Muldoon said. Flowers graced the table where she sat to tell her husband's story. They had arrived just a day or two before she learned her husband perished. He had sent them to mark the couple's fourth anniversary.

The young wife and mother described her husband as a true patriot. She said he believed in the mission of the U.S. in Iraq. He had volunteered to go three times before he was chosen for his first tour in Iraq. The same day he was accepted, she found out they were expecting their baby girl. Pyper was born while he was in Iraq.

Ashlee Muldoon said her husband wasn't looking forward to his second tour in Iraq. He had a baby and he wanted more time with his family. But he was proud to go. "He loved being a soldier."

When asked to describe her husband, she said he loved being from a small town. He wanted to retire from the Army and then go to college to be a football coach and a math teacher at Bells High School. He enjoyed his family and hers and he was a wonderful father and husband.

The Bells Athletic Booster Club plans to dedicate a 16-foot scorer's table as well as two 8-foot panels to Sgt. Muldoon. BISD Superintendent Joe Moore reported there will be a dedication ceremony Tuesday in the new gymnasium following the junior varsity basketball game and prior to the start of the varsity game.

Staff Sgt. Michael A. Shank -- died Nov. 28, 2006

There were few seats available at the Boyd Baptist Church north of Bonham Dec. 11, 2006 when the community gathered to surround family members who were saying their final good-byes to a man they call their hero. Outside the church was a cadre of volunteer Patriot Guard Riders standing at the ready to serve the soldier's family. Inside U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Rodney Johnson expressed his sympathy to the family. "On behalf of the Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army, I am here because I want to be here and not because I have to be, to recognize the personal sacrifice of Staff Sgt. Shank," Johnson said. "I did not personally know Mike but I do know what kind of person, husband, father, son, leader and soldier he was."

Johnson explained he had talked with the people who knew Staff Sgt. Shank "in theater." He read testimonials from one of Shank's leaders who said Staff Sgt. Shank always led from the front. He taught his soldiers how to be soldiers, warriors and future leaders. He never quit and he never let fear get in his way. He would never allow another to take a risk in his place and he always set the example.

Other statements were read from one of his soldiers and his platoon sergeant. A fellow NCO said Staff Sgt. Shank received the most satisfaction and pride in being a husband and a father. He had a very close relationship with both of his daughters, KateLynn and Michaela.

"They were the light of his life," Johnson read. "His actions represented his dedication to the United States of America. No greater honor can be demonstrated by his ultimate sacrifice and he will be remembered forever."

Staff Sgt. Shank was killed in Logar, Afghanistan. He died of injuries suffered when an IED detonated near the vehicle he was in during combat operations. He was assigned to the 230th Military Police Company, 95th Military Police Battalion, 18th Military Police NBrigade, Kaiserslautern, Germany.

Staff Sgt. Shank graduated from Dodd City High School and had been in the Army for 10 years. He intended for the Army to be his career. His family reports he always wanted to be a soldier. He spent a year in Iraq and had been stationed in Germany for the three years prior to deploying to Afghanistan earlier in 2006. He was expected to return home the following February or March.

State Guard Charlie Company Commander Lt. James Mathis said Staff Sgt. Shank was a good man and a good teenager. "He was a typical teenager but he was a good one," Mathis said. "He served his country well."

Mathis said Staff Sgt. Shank grew up in the Boyd Baptist Church and that's one way Mathis knew him. Mathis worked with him in youth group and other church activities.

Spc. Braden Joseph Long -- died Aug. 4, 2007 -- he was 31

Spc. Long died of injuries sustained when his Humvee came under grenade attack in Baghdad just three days shy of his 20th birthday. He was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kan. He served as a gunner.

A 2005 graduate of Sherman High School, he is remembered for his infectious smile, love of cars, love for his family and the intense desire to serve his country.

Chaplain Ken Sorenson told mourners at Faith Church of Sherman that one of the outstanding features of Spc. Long was his smile. His father added in a later telephone interview that his son's smile was always there. Sorenson used the letters in "smile" to describe Spc. Long to family and friends who flocked to his funeral.

"S" was for Specialist, Braden's army rank. "M" was for military. He said Spc. Long wanted to join the military since he was a little boy. "I" was for his intelligence in choosing a supportive wife like Teresa and for choosing the Army. "L" stood for likable. Sorenson said Spc. Long was an incredibly loving person. "I can see why Teresa would fall in love with him," Sorenson said.

Last, "E" stood for excellence. He described Spc. Long as determined to do the right thing. He would always fulfill his commitments.

Sorenson referred to the scripture Romans 5:7-8. "Christ died for us," he said. "There is something about a man who is willing to die for those he doesn't even know ... day after day, a willingness to sacrifice his all for people who didn't know him, much like his Savior did 2,000 years ago."

Later in the service, Sorenson said, "Freedom is never free and his (Spc. Long's) death serves as a reminder of the cost."

Following the final prayer of the funeral, the cadence of marching military echoed across the auditorium as the military honor guard advanced through the church isle to retrieve Spc. Long's casket.

At Cedarlawn Cemetery a mournful "Taps" sounded out from a single trumpet, and military and police alike raised their hands in salute. Then Airman Bill Long, Spc. Long's older brother who was sitting with the family, stood slowly, turned toward the ceremony and raised his salute as well. Airman Long served as escort for his brother's final return to Sherman. He was his mother's support along with her husband, Bobby Thrasher, throughout the services.

Hours after the funeral, Spc. Long's father, William Long, described their son as a normal teen while he was growing up. "But then, when you look back, you see a teen that almost never caused trouble," William Long said. "He was focused in wanting to go into the Army and that's what he did. He was a fantastic kid and a wonderful husband for his wife, and we are really going to miss him.

"He wanted to join and signed up and enlisted right after his 17th birthday," his father said, "but he couldn't go in for basic training until eight months later. He was unbelievably proud to wear the uniform and his whole family was very proud of him."

Sgt. Miguel Anthony Wilson -- died Nov. 21, 2008 -- he was 36

When 1st Sgt. Miguel Anthony Wilson said good-bye to his mother, Wanda Wilson, a month before his death, he assured her he was happy in his job and proud of his missions and what he was doing in the military. He told her he knew there was danger and if something happened, he would want his family to celebrate his life and not mourn him.

First Sgt. Wilson died while rescuing another soldier in Abu Sayf, Iraq. Wanda Wilson said another soldier was drowning and her son jumped in to save him. "Later on we found out he did save him," she said. "He didn't take his gear off (when he jump in the water) which those back packs weigh 65 pounds. He just dived in and saved his fellow soldier and the weight of that backpack kept him under and then the current, they said, was strong and he drowned."

His memorial service was held at Fort Hood's 19th Street Chapel with interment at Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery in Killeen.

First Sgt. Wilson was a 1990 graduate of Bonham High School where he was a member of the Warriors football team. His stepfather, Vincent Neal, said 1st Sgt. Wilson played cornerback and running back. His father, Michael Cooke, of Denison, remembers that Miguel stood out in soccer, played a little basketball and also ran track.

He attended college in Kansas but his mother said he didn't finish because he fell in love, married and started a family. He dropped out of college to go to work and support his family. Though 1st Sgt. Wilson divorced, he remained close to his three children, Brice, 16, Jenae, 14, and Lexis, 12, who live with their mother in the Ft. Hood/Killeen area. Sgt. Wilson later married Carolyn Monique.

It was Jan. 27, 1997 when 1st Sgt. Wilson first left home for the Army. Wanda Wilson remembers her son was older than the rest of the recruits, so he picked up the nickname "Dad." His family said the Army is where he found his niche. He loved being in the military and made it his career.

"He said, 'If anything happens to me, know that I died for my country that I love.'" his mother said. "I always said, when he was born, that he was my little hero. When he come here last month, we talked and laughed and I said 'now you are my big hero.' He hugged me and said 'okay, I don't want you to be disappointed because I am happy and I love you.' And so, he died my hero."