Sgt. 1st Class Kenneth W. Westbrook,41, of Shiprock, N.M.; was assigned to the 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kan.; He died Oct. 7 at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, D.C., of wounds suffered Sept. 8 when insurgents attacked his unit in Ganjigal Valley, Afghanistan, using small arms and indirect fire. He graduated from Shiprock High School and entered the military on July 16, 1987, where he completed basic and AIT training at Fort Benning, Georgia. On Oct. 20, 1987, he married his childhood sweetheart, Charlene. His first duty station was Fort Lewis, Washington from 1987-89; then an overseas tour in Korea at Camp Casey and the Persian Gulf War from 1989-90; Fort Campbell, Kentucky from 1990-91; Vilseck, Germany, from 1991-94; Fort Irwin, California, from 1994-97; Fort Jackson, South Carolina, from 1997-2000; Fort Collins, Colorado from 2000-02; South Korea from 2002-06; Fort Carson, Colorado from 2006-08; Fort Bliss, Texas, from 2008-09, and finally, Fort Riley, Kansas as a member of the MITT TEAM of the 1st Infantry Division, deployed to Afghanistan. He leaves behind his wife of 21 years, Charlene; sons, Zachary, Joshua and Joseph, parents, Ruth and Marshall Westbrook, brothers, David and wife, Vera, and Richard and wife, Wanda; sister, Sandra Ray and husband, Brent, mother-in-law, Maxine Joe; father-in law, Charley P. Joe. Throughout his school years he played the trumpet and in high school was on the Shiprock High School football team. Kenneth loved life, liked to tease and make jokes with everyone he made contact with. He loved to hunt and fish; they were his ultimate favorite pastimes. He was an avid cigar-smoker and enjoyed collecting them. He was an excellent cook and baker, as well as an awesome griller. Scenic drives into the Rocky Mountains with his family he cherished the most. Sci-fi movies and The History Channel he enjoyed watching at his leisure. He liked to build models of military vehicles as a favorite hobby. Watching football games was also another favorite pastime. He was a huge Green Bay Packers fan! Kenneth loved listening to '80s rock and country music from the '70s to current mainstream of today. He wanted nothing more but to be an infantryman and to serve his country that he loved so much. Love for the Lord was in his heart at all times. SFC Westbrook will be greatly missed by his family, friends and those who were near and dear to him. His quick-witted sense of humor and hearty laughter will always be remembered.