Spc. Aaron L. Preston of Dallas sustained a family tradition that saw his relatives on battlefields on Iwo Jima and in Europe, Vietnam and Korea. At age 26, it was his turn to serve. He enlisted in the Army. Before enlisting he was a 1995 graduate of W.T. White High School in Dallas, attended Texas State University part time and found activities around San Marcos that connected him to the outdoors. He worked part time on ranches and spent days fishing in the Hill Country's waterways. He was deployed to Iraq this year, following a path to combat blazed by his uncle and grandfather. The soldier achieved the rank of specialist and hoped to earn enough experience to start a career in the oilfields or mines as a demolitions expert. He wanted to help out and get ahead, and the only place he could learn about demolitions was in the military. He was to be released from duty in eight months. But on Christmas Day, just before midnight, Aaron died from wounds suffered when an improvised explosive detonated near his vehicle. He was precise when it came to the minutiae of his job. He knew his life depended on it, as did those of his military brothers, most of them five to 10 years younger than he was. Stationed in Germany for much of his military career, he missed the burnt orange sunsets that settle over the Texas horizon. He remained in touch with his family via telephone or e-mail. But in Germany, he found a new family. They called him "Pops" or "Gramps," terms they used frequently as a joke but also as a sign of respect for the 29-year-old serviceman. He often said that he had to help his colleagues because they were so young and didn't always follow protocol. But Aaron a details guy, did. He was 29.

Army
9th Engineer Battalion,
2nd Brigade Combat Team,
1st Infantry Division,
Schweinfurt, Germany.