Cpl. Ryan Scott Michael Dallam, 24, was killed in Baghdad when a roadside bomb tore through his Humvee, said his father, retired Army Lt. Col. Scott Dallam.

Dallam, who was driving the Humvee, was killed along with his platoon leader and a private who was a gunner on the vehicle, the elder Dallam said.

He said the military notified him at noon Friday about his son's death and the circumstances.

The Defense Department identified the other victims as Capt. Anthony Palermo, 26, of Brockton, Mass., and Pvt. Damian Lopez Rodriguez of Tucson, Ariz.

They were in the 1st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team of the 1st Infantry Division, based at Schweinfurt, Germany, the Defense Department said.

Dallam had been in Iraq for about six months after a year stationed in Germany.

Scott Dallam said he often spoke by phone with his son. Their last conversation was two weeks ago, he said.

"He kept telling me how eager he was to come home on leave," Dallam said, noting that his son was scheduled to come home in the middle of next week.

The corporal had not seen his family for more than 18 months.

Scott Dallam, who retired from the Army in 2003, often talked with his son about military life overseas and the camaraderie of his fellow soldiers.

Ryan Dallam was proud to be in the service of his country,

"He considered them heroes; great guys, a real band of broth ers," Scott Dallam said.

Ryan Dallam was born Sept. 22, 1982, in Norman to Scott and Laura Dallam.

The family lived in Norman and Midwest City for a few years until the couple divorced.

The young Dallam stayed with his mother, a teacher who eventually settled at Show Low in east-central Arizona, where she taught school at a Navajo reservation.

Ryan Dallam graduated from high school at Show Low in 2002 and moved to Fort Sill soon afterward to live with his father.

Scott Dallam said his son liked the atmosphere of Fort Sill, enjoying that aspect of military life.

That prompted him to enlist, although "I think he was leaning toward military life long before that," Scott Dallam said.

After Scott Dallam retired, the family returned to Norman, where Ryan Dallam enlisted in 2005.

Scott Dallam described his son as a typical, all-American youngster; a fun person to know and be with.

He said his son attended one semester at Oklahoma City Community College.

In addition to his father and mother, who lives in Show Low, Dallam is survived by his stepmother, Leslie; a stepbrother, Jason, 15; and a stepsister, Tayler, 17, all of Norman.

Funeral arrangements are pending, although Scott Dallam said services would be conducted at Fort Sill.

A memorial service is planned for 4:30 p.m. Thursday at First Christian Church in Norman.

Manny Gamallo 581-8386
manny.gamallo@tulsaworld.com