Sgt. Dennis Corral , 1st Engineer Battalion, 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, Jan. 1, 2004

Dennis A. Corral was not scheduled for deployment to Iraq until January, but he volunteered to go earlier in place of another soldier who was married and had children.

"He'll step forward if they need help," said his mother, Yolanda Corral . "He's always been like that." Corral , 33, of Kearney, Neb., was killed Jan. 1, 2004. when his vehicle went out of control as it traveled in a convoy to Baghdad International Airport. He had deployed to Iraq a month earlier.

Born in San Diego, Corral entered the Army in 1989 and later left the service to pursue other interests. He moved to Kearney in 1994, re-entered the Army in 1997 and had been stationed at Fort Riley since October.

After his death, his mother gathered with relatives to share memories.

"It's hard to believe he's gone," said Corral 's brother Peter, "but he did die doing what he loved to do."