http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/obituaries/stories/DN-prestonob_30met.ART.North.Edition1.3e47bc9.htmlHe was to be released from duty in eight months, his family said. But on Christmas Day, Spc. Preston died from wounds suffered when an improvised explosive detonated near his vehicle in Baghdad. He died just before midnight. "They must've caught him by surprise because that boy was smart," Mr. Coward said.
As the holidays neared, Mr. Coward said, Spc. Preston was working two missions each night, mostly on just a few hours of sleep. His unit was short-handed because of holiday leaves. According to Spc. Preston, everyone in his unit was fatigued.
He shared his concerns with a commanding officer, saying, "We're going to slip up if we don't get sleep." According to family members, Spc. Preston had worked three weeks without a day off before his death. "He was right; he was absolutely correct," said his brother-in-law. "What a waste, what an absolute utter waste of all these boys."
Two other members of Spc. Preston's company were also killed in Monday's blast: Sgt. John T. Bubeck, 25, of Collegeville, Pa., and Pfc. Andrew H. Nelson, 19, of St. Johns, Mich. They were assigned to the 9th Engineer Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division in Schweinfurt, Germany.