"He possessed a tenacious drive and exceptional intelligence, coupled with the determination to do what was right," Lust said. "He approached the job with absolutely no fear and an infectious smile, or smirk, depending on how you look at it."
On the Washington Post's "In Remembrance" website, Belser 's former high school wrestling coach, Erick Mackey, recalled Belser 's smile as he came off the mat a champion his senior year. He had defeated an opponent he had lost to the previous season. "That's the happiest I've ever seen anyone in my life," Mackey said.
Belser also excelled in the classroom and played the tenor sax in the high school band.
Belser 's mother, Phoebe, had a simple explanation for her son's ability to succeed.
"He just liked to see what he could do," Phoebe Belser said.
After graduating from Saks High School, Anniston, Ala., in 1999, Belser attended Jackson State University, where he joined the ROTC and participated in the Ranger Challenge program. He graduated from JSU with a degree in criminal justice in 2001.
Upon graduation he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army and his first assignment was with Bravo Company, 299th Forward Support Battalion in Schweinfort, Germany, where he was a platoon leader. He deployed for six months in support of Task Force Falcon in Kosovo. He then served as maintenance control officer for the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division.
He deployed again in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in Tikrit, Iraq, and he served as a Bravo Company executive officer in Balad, Iraq. He later served as the officer in charge of the logistics task force and upon re-deployment was instrumental in resetting the 2nd Brigade Combat Team combat power in operation for deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom IV.
Belser arrived at Fort Riley in April of 2006 and was assigned to the 610th Brigade Support Battalion as a support operations maintenance officer. He was then assigned to a military transition team and upon graduation deployed to Iraq.
Belser 's awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal (posthumous), the Purple Heart (posthumous), the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the National Defense Medal, the Kosovo Campaign Medal, the Iraqi Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Globsl War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Ribbon, the NATO Medal, the Combat Action Badge, and Parachutist Badge.
He is survived by his wife, Marshawn, and two children, Morgan and Myles.
