An Oklahoma soldier, killed in Iraq, was laid to rest Wednesday

BROKEN BOW, Okla. (AP) -- An Oklahoma soldier died in Iraq to help the people there gain freedom, his father said Wednesday.<br/><br/>Family and friends gathered at a private funeral to pay their final

Wednesday, February 9th 2005, 5:40 am

By: News On 6

BROKEN BOW, Okla. (AP) -- An Oklahoma soldier died in Iraq to help the people there gain freedom, his father said Wednesday.

Family and friends gathered at a private funeral to pay their final respects to Army Spec. Robby Taylor Hendrickson, 24.

Hendrickson died Feb. 1 in Baghdad when the military vehicle he was driving hit a barrier and toppled over. He lost consciousness after the accident and did not recover, his family said.

Hendrickson's father, Dave, said his son will be remembered as a hero.

"He died to help the Iraqi people achieve their freedom," Dave Hendrickson said. "He died for the Iraqi people and the war against terrorism so that his son might have a safer world to live in."

After the service, family members gathered in front of the funeral home as Robby Hendrickson's flag-draped casket was rolled out. A military honor guard fired their rifles in tribute, a bugler played taps and a military official presented folded American flags to the soldier's family.

Robby Hendrickson had been in Iraq about a year with his Fort Hood, Texas-based unit. He told family he was scheduled to return home within a month.

Dave Hendrickson said his son looked forward to spending time with his own 6-year-old son, Dylan.

"He loved Dylan more than anything," he said. "My son was a good boy. He was a good man. He was a good dad."

Hendrickson also is survived by his mother, Pamela Herrington, and a sister, Krystal Bonner.