Army Pfc. Jerimiah J. Veitch, 21, of Dibble, died Thursday when his vehicle was hit in a rocket-propelled attack in Baghdad, the Department of Defense said Monday.

On Saturday, Army Spc. Derek Calhoun, 23, of Oklahoma City, was killed in a roadside bomb attack on his Humvee north of Baghdad. Three other soldiers in the vehicle with him also were killed, his family said.

The two were the latest of announced Iraq casualties from Oklahoma.

On Thursday, Army Pfc. Thomas Ray Leemhuis, 23, of Anadarko, and Army Sgt. Ryan M. Wood, 22, of Oklahoma City, died together when a roadside bomb tore through their Bradley fighting vehicle.

Three other soldiers in the vehicle with them were also killed, the Department of Defense said.

Funeral arrangements for Leemhuis are pending at Binger Funeral Home, while services for Wood are pending at Smith & Kernke Funeral Home in Oklahoma City.

Calhoun, who had been in Iraq since October, was badly injured in a bomb attack at Tikrit four months ago, according to his father, Alan Calhoun of Oklahoma City.

His father said a bomb-laden truck had tried to crash through a barrier at a compound. When it couldn't penetrate the barrier, the truck exploded, sending shrapnel in all directions, including at his son.

"They still couldn't get all the glass out," Calhoun said, noting that his son was not yet fully recovered from his injuries when he died.

He said it was the family's understanding that his son was not to be on any combat missions in the meantime.

Also, Calhoun said his son was to have come home in May. It was changed to June, and the last word his family had was that the soldier was to have returned home in July.

Calhoun said his son had been a tank driver until the day he was injured.

"He was a good kid, who loved his nieces and nephews," the father said.

Calhoun was born and raised in Oklahoma City and graduated from Moore High School, and had played football in junior high school.

"He loved sports, any type," the father said.

He was assigned to Delta Company 2/8th Cavalry, at the time of his death.

"He didn't like Iraq," the father said. "He didn't like being there; didn't like being shot at."

Funeral arrangements for Calhoun are pending.

In addition to his father, he is survived by his mother, Lou; and a sister, Lanesha Morris, 25, of Oklahoma City.

Jerimiah Veitch

A candlelight vigil was held Sunday night at Dibble High School, where Veitch graduated from in 2005, said his mother, Valorie Sanchez.

He played on the football team there and was a weight-lifter. He was described as a good student and a reliable young man.

Veitch was born in Moore, but the family later moved to Modesto and San Jose, Calif., before returning to Dibble, southwest of Norman, in time for his high school years.

"He was one of those kids everyone liked. He got along with everyone," said the soldier's mother.

"Everyone we talked to said he was an exceptional young man; honest with you, the kind of person who always shot straight from the hip.

"He was always the clown. He loved to laugh and wanted everyone else around him to laugh," Sanchez said.

The mother said her son would often go on patrols in Iraq as the driver or the gunner on his Humvee.

"He never talked too much about Iraq, except to say that it was real bad over there and that he was very homesick," the mother said.

She said her son had plans to return home after the Army, buy some land and build a house. He had planned to go to work for his stepfather, Tony Sanchez, in the roofing business.

Veitch joined the Army in 2005, and had been in Iraq for eight months. The last time his family saw him was about two months ago when he came home on leave.

While in Iraq this year, Veitch displayed his courage and his mettle.

In a March 21 story in the Khaleej Times, an English-language newspaper in the United Arab Emirates of Dubai, Veitch's actions in the face of an impending attack a few days earlier was profiled.

Veitch was a gunner on a Humvee patrolling a volatile market area of Baghdad when six armed insurgents came rushing in his direction.

At first his gun jammed, but he quickly fixed the problem and opened fire on them, wounding three and killing one.

His platoon leader, Lt. Jeremy Currin, was quoted as being proud of the actions of his men, and believed that Iraqis are beginning to appreciate the protection they provide.

Veitch was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, based out of Fort Carson, Colo., at the time of his death.

Funeral arrangements for Veitch are pending at Eisenhower Funeral Home at Blanchard.

In addition to his parents, he is survived by a sister, Amanda Testerman, 22, of Dibble; and two brothers, Caleb Veitch, 16, and Jacob Veitch, 13, both of the home.

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