OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- An Oklahoma city soldier who was killed in an insurgency attack in Iraq this week was a happy, giving young man, family members and friends said Friday.

Spc. Sonny Gene Sampler, 23, was one of five U.S. soldiers who died Thursday at a military headquarters in Samara, Iraq, when insurgents detonated a car bomb and fired mortars at the building.

Rellon "Skeeter" Sampler said the family learned of his younger brother's death Thursday afternoon.

"He was a first-class kid," Skeeter Sampler said. "He'd do anything for you. He always had a smile on his face."

Sonny Sampler grew up in Altus and moved to Oklahoma City with his family. He attended John Marshall High School before getting his GED.

In 2001 he joined the Army, which his friend Dylan Toombs said Sampler saw as a way to better himself.

"He wanted to kind of make something of himself and have a direction in life," Toombs said.

"He thought when he came out of the military he would have a pretty straight head on him."

But Toombs said the main reason Sonny Sampler gave for joining the Army was so he could save money and help his family.

Skeeter Sampler said the last time he talked to his brother, Sonny Sampler said he was looking forward to coming home for two weeks of leave beginning Aug. 1.

Toombs said he spoke to Sonny Sampler two weeks ago.

"He was pretty much just telling me what was going on where he was staying," he said. "I didn't like talking to him much about that kind of stuff.

"You don't want to talk to him very much in that situation because you don't want to make too many promises," Toombs said. "You never know what is going to happen next."

Army Spc. Sonny Gene Sampler, who was killed July 8 in Iraq, will be buried Friday in Oklahoma City after a 10 a.m. funeral at Guardian North Funeral Home, 11600 N. Pennsylvania Ave.

Sampler was one of five U.S. soldiers who were killed at a military headquarters in Samarra, Iraq, that insurgents attacked with a car bomb and mortar shells. He was 23.

Sampler grew up in Altus and moved to Oklahoma City with his family.

He attended John Marshall High School before getting his general equivalency diploma.

Survivors include his parents, Kim and Gene Sampler; a brother, Rellon "Skeeter" Lee Sampler; and two sisters, Gina Renee Reinke and Vicki Lynn Sampler.

Memorial donations are being sent to Blue Star Mothers, Sonny Sampler Memorial, P.O. Box 2306, Tulsa OK 74101.

Use Browser's "Back" Arrow To Return To Previous Page

* * * A QMS Deezyne * * *