Vincent George Kamka, 23, of Idaho Falls, passed away October 4, 2007, of injuries received while serving his country in Operation Iraqi Freedom in Bayji, Iraq. He was

assigned to the 1st Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, out of Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

He was born May 14, 1984, in Idaho Falls, Idaho, to Delore

Charles "Chuck" Kamka and Brenda Gale Garvin Kamka. He grew up in Idaho Falls and attended Longfellow and Westside Elementary Schools, BFA Private School, Eagle Rock Junior High School and graduated from Skyline High School in 2003. He lived in Everett, Washington, for one year, and had been serving in Iraq for a year as a Specialist in the U.S. Army. Vince firmly believed in the cause he was fighting for in Operation Iraqi Freedom and served his country with great pride.

He was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He enjoyed target practice with bow and arrow and guns, hiking, video games and taking walks with his mother.

Survivors include his parents, Chuck and Brenda Kamka of Idaho Falls; brothers, Brendan McHugh of Ocean Beach, Calif., Christopher Kamka of Everett, Wash., David Hayes of Idaho Falls and Joseph Kamka of Everett, Wash.; sisters, Mia Chase of Herriman, Utah, Lisa Heimerl of Sobieski, Wis., Yvette Wise, Mary Tracy and Connie Kamka, all of Idaho Falls, and Cassandra Cantero of Roy, Utah; Bangladesh sister, Shaba Alam; grandmothers, Dorothy Kamka of Peshtigo, Wis., and Vivian Kinnie of Gilroy, Calif.; nieces, Megan, Alyson, Victoria, Mia, Kynda, Makaylla and Abbygayle; nephews, Chase, Krahe, Kaeden, Alex, Christopher, Cody, Josh, Bryson and Michaelangelo. He was preceded in death by his grandfathers, Delore Kamka and Andrew Garvin.

The Soldier's Creed

I am an American Soldier.

I am a Warrior and a member of a team.

I serve the people of the United States and live the Army Values.

I will always place the mission first.

I will never accept defeat.

I will never quit.

I will never leave a fallen comrade.

I am disciplined, physically and mentally tough, trained and proficient in my warrior tasks and drills.

I always maintain my arms, my equipment and myself.

I am an expert and I am a professional.

I stand ready to deploy engage, and destroy the enemies of the United States of American in close combat.

I am a guardian of freedom and the American way of life.

I am an American Soldier.