USA SGT Julia V. Atkins, 22, of Bossier City, LA, died in Baghdad when an improvised explosive device detonated near her HMMWV during patrol operations. Julia was an MP assigned to the 64th Military Police Company, 720th Military Police Battalion, 89th Military Police Brigade, Fort Hood, TX. She was on her second tour of duty in Iraq and was scheduled to leave Iraq in February. She planned to attend college and marry SGT Keith Mack. The youngest of four children Julia is survived by her father Billy Atkins, stepbrother Larry Thomas and two stepsisters—Tawanna Thomas and Shiri (Thomas) Selby.
Sergeant Atkins is the first female soldier to become a Battalion Casualty since it was formed in 1942.
Julia was killed in action when an improvised explosive device detonated near her HMMWV during patrol operations in the Adhamiyah district of north Baghdad.
SGT Atkins was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal and Purple Heart Medal.
Julia Atkins was the youngest of four children whose mother died when she was 12 years old.
She joined the Army shortly after getting her GED, in part because of a family history of military service. Julia was on her second tour of duty in the war and was scheduled to leave Iraq in February, she was planning to leave the Army and go to college.
September 2005 SGT Atkins posted this message in the Battalion News Letter from Iraq...
PFC Atkins To Shiri, "I just wanted to tell you that I love you! Take care – you are my strength. Hope you enjoy your new job!"
23 December 2005 The first female soldier from the Ark-La-Tex killed in Iraq has been laid to rest. Funeral services for were held Friday morning at First Baptist Church of Bossier. Sergeant Atkins was she was the 50th female soldier to die in the war in Iraq.
*Cemetery Bio info from Rosemary*
Sergeant Atkins is the first female soldier to become a Battalion Casualty since it was formed in 1942.
Julia was killed in action when an improvised explosive device detonated near her HMMWV during patrol operations in the Adhamiyah district of north Baghdad.
SGT Atkins was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal and Purple Heart Medal.
Julia Atkins was the youngest of four children whose mother died when she was 12 years old.
She joined the Army shortly after getting her GED, in part because of a family history of military service. Julia was on her second tour of duty in the war and was scheduled to leave Iraq in February, she was planning to leave the Army and go to college.
September 2005 SGT Atkins posted this message in the Battalion News Letter from Iraq...
PFC Atkins To Shiri, "I just wanted to tell you that I love you! Take care – you are my strength. Hope you enjoy your new job!"
23 December 2005 The first female soldier from the Ark-La-Tex killed in Iraq has been laid to rest. Funeral services for were held Friday morning at First Baptist Church of Bossier. Sergeant Atkins was she was the 50th female soldier to die in the war in Iraq.
*Cemetery Bio info from Rosemary*
USA SGT Julia V. Atkins, 22, of Bossier City, LA, died in Baghdad when an improvised explosive device detonated near her HMMWV during patrol operations. Julia was an MP assigned to the 64th Military Police Company, 720th Military Police Battalion, 89th Military Police Brigade, Fort Hood, TX. She was on her second tour of duty in Iraq and was scheduled to leave Iraq in February. She planned to attend college and marry SGT Keith Mack. The youngest of four children Julia is survived by her father Billy Atkins, stepbrother Larry Thomas and two stepsisters—Tawanna Thomas and Shiri (Thomas) Selby.
Sergeant Atkins is the first female soldier to become a Battalion Casualty since it was formed in 1942.
Julia was killed in action when an improvised explosive device detonated near her HMMWV during patrol operations in the Adhamiyah district of north Baghdad.
SGT Atkins was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal and Purple Heart Medal.
Julia Atkins was the youngest of four children whose mother died when she was 12 years old.
She joined the Army shortly after getting her GED, in part because of a family history of military service. Julia was on her second tour of duty in the war and was scheduled to leave Iraq in February, she was planning to leave the Army and go to college.
September 2005 SGT Atkins posted this message in the Battalion News Letter from Iraq...
PFC Atkins To Shiri, "I just wanted to tell you that I love you! Take care – you are my strength. Hope you enjoy your new job!"
23 December 2005 The first female soldier from the Ark-La-Tex killed in Iraq has been laid to rest. Funeral services for were held Friday morning at First Baptist Church of Bossier. Sergeant Atkins was she was the 50th female soldier to die in the war in Iraq.
*Cemetery Bio info from Rosemary*
Sergeant Atkins is the first female soldier to become a Battalion Casualty since it was formed in 1942.
Julia was killed in action when an improvised explosive device detonated near her HMMWV during patrol operations in the Adhamiyah district of north Baghdad.
SGT Atkins was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal and Purple Heart Medal.
Julia Atkins was the youngest of four children whose mother died when she was 12 years old.
She joined the Army shortly after getting her GED, in part because of a family history of military service. Julia was on her second tour of duty in the war and was scheduled to leave Iraq in February, she was planning to leave the Army and go to college.
September 2005 SGT Atkins posted this message in the Battalion News Letter from Iraq...
PFC Atkins To Shiri, "I just wanted to tell you that I love you! Take care – you are my strength. Hope you enjoy your new job!"
23 December 2005 The first female soldier from the Ark-La-Tex killed in Iraq has been laid to rest. Funeral services for were held Friday morning at First Baptist Church of Bossier. Sergeant Atkins was she was the 50th female soldier to die in the war in Iraq.
*Cemetery Bio info from Rosemary*
