HOOKER, Okla. (AP) -- The mother of an Oklahoma soldier who
died when a roadside bomb exploded south of Baghdad said he had
an interest in the military from an early age and she was proud
when he joined the Army.
2nd Lt. Luke S. James, 24, was one of three soldiers killed
in the explosion Tuesday near Iskandariyah. Also killed were
Staff Sgt. Lester O. Kinney II, 27, of Zanesville, Ohio, and
Sgt. Cory R. Mracek, 26, of Hay Springs, Neb.
James grew up in this town of about 1,500 people in the
Oklahoma Panhandle. His father, Bradley James, is a retired
Army Reserves major.
"We all just knew that's what he wanted to do," his mother,
Arleen James, said in a telephone interview Friday. "He wore
the Army fatigues. He enjoyed dressing in those. He'd just say
'I'm playing Army today.' We are talking when he was 3 or 4
years of age."
James played football at Hooker High School and graduated
near the top of his class. He graduated from Oklahoma State
University, where he was in the ROTC. He earned a degree in
animal science.
He was commissioned as a second lieutenant on Dec. 13, 2002.
He became a member of the 82nd Airborne Division and left Fort
Bragg, N.C., for Iraq on Jan. 15.
"We had a couple of e-mails from him," Arleen James said.
"Things weren't too busy and it was cold and he said that he
loved us and missed us.
"We are very thankful for the communications we were able to
have."
She said her son enjoyed the camaraderie of the military.
"He certainly
died loving what he was doing," she said. "He
always wanted to serve his country.
"We are very proud as parents that he had the attitude he
had and wanted to serve.
"It wouldn't have been this mother's choice, but you have to
have young men and women willing to preserve the freedom we
have. We are glad he was willing."
James is survived by his wife, Molly James, of Fayetteville.
Their son, Bradley, is 6 months old.
He also is survived by a sister, Sharla, 17, and a brother,
Kirby, 21.
