Fallen Oklahoma Soldier Honored In New Book

Wednesday, May 16th 2007, 9:55 am

By: News On 6

They made the ultimate sacrifice in Iraq and Afghanistan, now some of those fallen soldiers are being honored in a new book. It's called "Faces of Freedom," and it features one of our own. Jason Hendrix died two years ago. Shortly after, his parents battled over where he should be buried. It's the kind of attention one family friend says took away from the sacrifice Hendrix made. The News On 6â€™s Latoya Silmon reports that friend says now this book will give him his due.

Hendrix was called to duty after terrorists attacked the U.S. on 9/11.

â€œJason didn't have to go to Iraq,â€ said Danna Malone. â€œHe did everything in his power to go to Iraq, knowing that he had a 50-50 chance, and he was willing to make that sacrifice."

On February 16, 2005, as Hendrix tried to pull his fellow soldiers from a burning vehicle, a roadside bomb went off killing him.

â€œHe meant as much to them as he did to us,â€ said Malone. â€œYou know they really respected him and looked up to him, just like we did. We all loved him and still do."

Now, Malone says she's glad that the whole world can learn about the man she considered part as of her family. Hendrix is one of 52 fallen soldiers featured in "Faces of Freedom." He's the only solider chosen from Oklahoma.

"To represent Oklahoma, it really gave us a great feeling, but of course it's sad that he has to represent it this way, but he died doing what he loved," said Malone.

And Malone says now everyone who reads the book will know it.

"We were able to hear what we hadn't heard before, and it was very powerful,â€ Malone said.

Kit Jarrell from Tulsa wrote the tribute to Hendrix. The book will be available May 19th.

Watch the video:

Oklahoma Soldier Killed In Iraq Featured In Book