Army Sgt. Willard T. Partridge
Death: Aug 20, 2005
of Ferriday La.; assigned to the 170th Military Police Company 504th Military Police Battalion 42nd Military Police Brigade Fort Lewis Wash.; killed Aug. 20 when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle in Baghdad. * * * * * A baseball player and family man Fort Lewis soldier lives on through his legacy Associated Press Despite their six-year age difference Willard T. Partridge and his sister remained close. “A lot of times growing up it kind of felt like he was my son” she said Darlene Moon 41. Moon said she and her brother enjoyed hunting and fishing together. Partridge35 of Ferriday La. was killed Aug. 20 in Baghdad by a roadside bomb. He was based at Fort Lewis Wash. Partridge was a 1988 high school graduate who advanced to regional and state championships in baseball showing talent as a pitcher. He trained in refrigeration and welding at Copiah-Lincoln Community College. When the rubber company he worked for closed in September 2002 he joined the Army. Partridge’s cousin Shelley Poole said she’ll especially miss the big hugs he gave her every time they met. “He always has a smile on his face” she said. “The emotions run real high and then drop real low reminiscing about him.” He is survived by his wife Rhonda and two daughters: Kelsee11 and Kymberlee 9. “We can always remember the good things” said friend Michael Williams. “I can’t remember a bad one.” Operation Iraqi Freedom