Arkansan Killed In Iraq

A 20-year-old Army soldier from Springdale was killed by friendly fire in Iraq. Specialist Dustin K- "Dusty" McGaugh was killed Tuesday about 50 north of Baghdad. His father, James McGaugh of Springdale, says the Army is still investigating how his son was killed. McGaugh died in Balad, Iraq. He a part of the 17th Field Artillery Brigade of Fort Sill, Oklahoma. The Army listed his hometown as Derby, Kansas. James McGaugh says all the Army has told him so far is that his son was killed by friendly fire and that the case is still open. James McGaugh says his son grew up in Springdale and joined the Army ROTC after he graduated from high school in 2001 in Tulsa, Okla. McGaugh`s unit was sent to the Middle East in the spring. McGaugh said his son enlisted before the September eleventh, 2001, terror attacks. James McGaugh said the Army notified him Wednesday of his son`s death. He says a soldier in his son`s unit told him his son was popular with Iraqi children because he handed out candy. The soldier`s brother, James D. McGaugh of Claremore, Oklahoma, says said the September eleventh attacks occurred when his brother was in boot camp and the family knew that meant war. But, he said his sibling remained benevolent. He said one captain told the family that soldiers were trained to stay in their vehicles. Once in Iraq, he recalled looking over and seeing Dustin giving out candy to children. In addition to his father and brother, he is survived by his mother, Marina Hayes of Tulsa, Oklahoma; stepmother, Katrina McGaugh of Springdale; and a twin sister, Windy McGaugh of Derby, Kansas.