AR Soldier Killed in Iraq
By: Alexa Hamblin
Updated: May 29, 2007
An Arkansas National Guard Soldier participating in Operation Iraqi Freedom died Saturday. Spc. Erich S. Smallwood, 23, of Trumann, Arkansas, died near Taji, Iraq, on May 26, 2007, of wounds sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle. Smallwood was a member of the Marked Tree-based Company B, of the 87th Troop Command's 875th Engineer Battalion. During the deployment, Smallwood was serving with the battalion's Company A, from Jonesboro. Approximately 400 Soldiers from the 875th Engineer Battalion were mobilized for duty in Iraq on July 19, 2006. The 875th is headquartered in Jonesboro, Arkansas with units based in Paragould, Harrisburg and Marked Tree. The battalion is slated for return in the fall of this year. This is the 21st loss suffered by the Arkansas National Guard during Operation Iraqi Freedom, and the only for the 875th.
