Spc. Brandon W. Smitherman

Capt. Tim Hudson remembered handpicking Brandon W. Smitherman to be his driver because he was such a squared-away young soldier. At least an hour before any mission, Smitherman would have the commander's vehicle in top shape and ready to go. "You need a smart, motivated and disciplined soldier to be the commander's driver," Hudson said. "He was absolutely the right guy for the job. He was completely on the ball." Smitherman, 21, of Conroe, Texas, was killed Oct. 31 when an explosive detonated near his vehicle in Mosul. He was a 2004 high school graduate and was assigned to Fort Bliss. Everyone called Smitherman "Smitty." Sgt. Keith Sangster recalled the younger soldier as a "kid who never showed his frustrations." "He was always happy and smiling and always messing around with people," Sangster said. "He was also one of the most physically fit people in our company." In high school, Smitherman was a third-string defensive end and also served as a deep snapper. "He was a super kid who was very polite and worked hard," said football coach John Bolfing. Smitherman is survived by his mother, Teresa, and father, Harvey.