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Fallen soldier honored for bravery
By Meghan McCormick
THE NORMAN TRANSCRIPT (NORMAN, Okla.)
NORMAN, Okla. — A
Norman soldier who died [on 6 April 2007] while serving his country in Iraq
was honored for his devotion to the armed forces.
Commander Don Schulenberg and District Commander Bob Moore, both of the
American Legion Post VFW Post 4890, presented a memorial commendation [on 8
May 2007] to Retired LTC Scott and Leslie Dallam in recognition of their son
Army Spc. Ryan Dallam.
Dallam, 24, was killed April 6, in Baghdad.
The soldier was driving the lead vehicle in a convoy that struck an
improvised explosive device. The explosion left a 30-foot diameter hole in
the road. The Norman native died along with his platoon leader and gunner, who
were inside the vehicle.
Schulenberg said veterans decided to pay tribute to Dallam because he is the
first soldier from Cleveland County who is a casualty of the Iraq war. The father thanked
Schulenberg for honoring his son. "My family and I appreciate
this,” he said. “Our family and friends have surrounded us with
love.” Dallam said when his son enlisted in the Army they talked about
the dangers and risks that surround the life of a soldier. “He did this
willingly,” the father said. “Nobody twisted his arm.”
Dallam was the third generation to serve in the military. Both his father and
grandfather Retired Col. Harold Dallam were members of the Army. After
learning about his son’s death, Dallam took a short leave from teaching
at Longfellow Middle School. He returned to the
school the last week of April.
Dallam said his family received a condolence letter from President George W.
Bush as well as from military leaders across the country.
Tayler Dallam said her older brother was scheduled to come home on leave
April 18. She last saw her brother 18 months before his death. She said she
cleared her schedule hoping she would be able to spend time with him. Leslie Dallam said her stepson kept in
close contact with his family, usually phoning at least once a week. Even
though she knows it’s not possible, the stepmother expects the fallen
soldier to be at the other end of the phone when it rings. “Sometimes
you think it can’t be real,” she said.
Dallam said her family has received an outpouring of support from strangers
and friends. Organizations from across the state also have paid tribute to
Dallam. She said she is proud of the career path that her stepson chose.
“He accomplished more in that short period than he ever did
before,” she said.
Before his Army career, the younger Dallam divided his time with his family
in Norman and his mother, Laura Dallam, in Arizona. He graduated from Show Low High School in 2002, and had attended Oklahoma City Community College. After he enlisted
in the Army, Dallam reported to Fort Leonard Wood Army Post for basic
training, his father said. He later was assigned to a company based in Schweinfurt, Germany.
He was a member of the Headquarters Company, 1st/18th Infantry, 2nd Brigade
Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division that was deployed to Iraq. Dallam was buried at Fort Sill
National Cemetery.
Fallen soldier honored for bravery. (May
15, 2007). The Norman Transcript. Retrieved
06:14, August 11, 2007, from http://www.normantranscript.com/statenews/cnhinsall_story_135120536.html
Iraq War
Dates: March 19, 2003 - Conflict
continues...
Where: Iraq
American Casualties: 4102 as of June 20, 2008
Iraq Collation
Causality Count. (June 20, 2008). iCasualties.org. Retrieved 17:27, June 20, 2008, from http://icasualties.org/oif/
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