Spc Erin Robicheaux
256th Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs
CAMP TIGERLAND, Iraq -- Soldiers and Department of Defense civilian employees alike gathered in the Tiger Chapel here June 8 to honor a civilian killed in a recent attack on this dusty base in west Baghdad.
Linda J. Villar was exercising on the morning of June 3, when a rocket struck the Tigerland gym. She did not survive the attack.
Her friends and colleagues, and even those who never knew her filed into the house of worship to pay their final respects to a woman who died in service to her country and its Soldiers.
Born in Franklinton, La., Villar was a logistics assistance representative for Tank-Automotive and Armaments Command. She had a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Southern University of New Orleans, and a master's degree in Organization and Business from Cambridge College.
Villar followed in her husband's footsteps when she came to Baghdad as an LAR. She arrived in Iraq long enough to spend 10 days with her husband and switch places with him as he was going out.
"We often teased her about the way she and Dave did the "high-five tag," swapping places like basketball players," said Frank Milburn, one of Villar's co-worker.
He said Villar was like a little sister to everyone and she looked for ways to bring everyone closer together. They often teased her about being their "cruise director.
Milburn said she saw a need to strengthen office morale and she organized a barbecue involving personnel from various organizations.
"We found other individuals in a similar situation and feelings of oneness and camaraderie developed," he said.
Along the way, Villar was promoted to logistics management specialist, working closely with units to help them prepare for deployments to Iraq.
"Linda had a way with peopleâ?¦we miss her smile, her wit, and ability to get us to do things we did not want to do," said Milburn. "We miss you little sister!"
| Date Taken: | 06.14.2005 |
| Date Posted: | 06.14.2005 10:52 |
| Story ID: | 2151 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 124 |
| Downloads: | 5 |
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