SACRAMENTO — Arnold Duplantier II had just celebrated his 26th birthday and returned to Iraq when he was killed while guarding the hotel where members of the international media stay, the California National Guard said yesterday. Duplantier was killed by small arms fire Wednesday afternoon while guarding the outside of the Al-Rasheed Hotel in Baghdad, Guard spokesman Tech. Sgt. Andrew Hughan said. He was the only casualty. He is the 12th California guardsman killed in Iraq and the first from Sacramento. "Every indication is he's just a good soldier. He volunteered to go" to Iraq, Hughan said. Duplantier had been a full-time guardsman providing security at the Guard's Sacramento headquarters before he volunteered, Hughan said. A casualty report released yesterday said he was recently promoted to sergeant. Duplantier was assigned to the Army National Guard's 1st Battalion, 184th Infantry Regiment, Auburn, Calif. Duplantier's battalion is part of the 29th Separate Infantry Brigade. The brigade also includes about 2,100 Hawai'i Army National Guard soldiers. He served six months of a yearlong deployment before returning to Sacramento recently for a two-week leave. He returned to Iraq 10 days ago for his second six-month stint after a shopping trip to buy presents to hand to Iraqi children, his widow said. He also is survived by a 5-year-old daughter. Tanya Duplantier, 25, last talked to her husband hours before he died. "He said he couldn't wait to get home and that he had to be strong," she told the Sacramento Bee. Arnold Duplantier, 44, raised his son alone from the age of 12 and said his son found structure in the military. "He already had this sense of what he's got to do in life," he said while holding a watch with "United We Stand" highlighted against an American flag, a gift from his son.

Born June 3, 1979, he passed away on June 22, 2005, as a valiant soldier serving our country. Survived by his wife Tanya, daughter Isabel, father Arnold Sr., his siblings Josh, Chris, Thomas, Marcus, Natalie, Nicole and Samantha, grandmothers Virginia, Bertha and Florence, grandfathers Paul and Jim, and numerous aunts and uncles. Arnold was an amazing man whom we were all blessed to have known. A brave, kind and unselfish friend, son and husband, a man who cried the day his daughter was born. The love he had for his family and the part he played in all of our lives is immeasurable. Even though you are no longer here in body, you will always be in our hearts. Those who wish to pay their respects are invited to attend a memorial service at MOUNT VERNON on Friday, July 1, at 9:00 AM. In lieu of flowers (should you so desire), a donation can be made to the Arnold Duplantier II Memorial Fund at any Golden 1 Credit Union.
Published in the Sacramento Bee on 6/29/2005.