Veterans Day Takes on New Meaning for LR Family

This week was supposed to be the end of Army Sgt Keelan Moss` R & R break from the Iraqi conlfict. Instead, his family is planning a Saturday funeral for the 23 year old. As Moss was leaving the country two weeks ago, headed for the U.S., the Chinook copter he was on was shot down by a terrorist missle. He and 15 other soldiers were killed in that attack. Moss` grandmother, Willie Johnson, says he never had any fear about serving in Iraq. "He just said I`m here playing in the sand, guarding the place," said Johnson. Moss` uncles and aunts who are also career Army, encouraged him to accept the challenge and the adventure of the military. The say the sadness of this tragedy is mitigated by the fact that Moss loved what he did. The 23 year old had been in the Army since he was 18. He was assigned to Fort Sill, Oklahoma, Second Battalion, 5th Field Artillery Regiment. He and his wife lived in Lawton. He had a 4 year old son. Seven months ago, Moss` family endured another loss connected to the Iraqi conflict. Moss` cousin Navy Corpsman Michael Johnson was the only Arkansan killed while major combat operations in Iraq were still active.