United in love

Image courtesy: Facebook

On August 21, Teresa Maggart spoke to her husband, Sgt. Brandon Maggart, via Skype. The 24-year-old soldier was on his second deployment to Iraq after arriving there in January. He was a part of history during his tour of duty, which included the departure of the last American combat unit from Iraq on August 18. Sgt. Maggart was also looking forward to seeing his wife, Teresa, and their three-year-old son, Blake, when he returned home for leave in September.

The Maggarts did not realize that their chat over a computer screen would be their last conversation. According to the Pentagon, the soldier was killed on Sunday near Basrah, Iraq, "when insurgents attacked his unit using indirect fire." Sgt. Maggart was assigned to 5th Battalion, 5th Air Defense Artillery Regiment.

"On behalf of the entire Joint Base Lewis-McChord military and civilian community, we extend our sincere condolences to the family and friends of Sgt. Maggart," a Joint Base Lewis-McChord press release said.

KMOV-TV, which has told more of Maggart's personal story more than any other media outlet, spoke with the principal of the soldier's high school in Kirksville, Missouri.

“With Brandon I always figured he would be successful if he had a chance to get out, get a hands on experience, so when I’d heard that, and I don't pretend to know all the levels, but when I heard he had moved up the ranks rather quickly, that didn't necessarily surprise me at all, he was that type of person, I think if he found something of interest he was going to be successful,” Mikel said.

The comment section of another KMOV article has dozens of moving tributes to the departed warrior.

"I met you as a young Soldier. I took a major part in training you. I watched you grow over the years into a fine Noncommissioned Officer. You became my good friend," Sgt. Tyler Webber wrote. "To my disbelief, you are gone. I will miss you always little brother. May God bring you to him. Rest in peace."

President Obama will declare the end of combat operations in Iraq in an oval office speech on August 31. While the administration and military officials have consistently said that danger still remains for the approximately 50,000 troops stationed in the country, Americans must make sure to keep these service members and their families in our thoughts. While the U.S. military fought brilliantly to accomplish its combat mission, the war in Iraq is not over until every volunteer warrior is out of harm's way.

The next time the Maggarts are together, the soldier's wife will be resting her hand on her husband's flag-draped casket. Yet as we see in the below photo, which has a devastating emotional impact given Sunday's tragic events, the couple will always be united through their little boy. As he grows up, there is no doubt that those around him will explain that his father was a hero who helped make history. Sgt. Brandon Maggart wasn't just the first American soldier to die since the last combat unit left Iraq. He was a dad.

Image courtesy: Maggart family/KMOV