By Associated Press
Springville, NY – A Fort Drum soldier killed when a vehicle-bomb exploded near his patrol in Baghdad was described by his wife in Midland, Texas, on Monday as a "perfect husband" who was selfless, happy and had a wonderful laugh.
Army Spc. Brian K. Baker, 27, of Springville was killed Sunday. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, 10th Mountain Division, based at Fort Drum in northern New York.
Amy Roach Baker said her husband told her he was filled with a warm feeling when he found out they were expecting identical twin girls. The twins are due in January.
"I hope they look like him because I need to see him every day," she said in a story in Tuesday's Midland (Texas) Reporter-Telegram. "I just wish I could feel that (warm feeling) right now. I feel so empty."
Rusty Roach said his son-in-law was in Iraq "because he wanted to be, not because he had to be."
Baker often told his wife that he wasn't doing anything dangerous during his deployment. She said he never complained.
"The Army is at a loss without him," his wife said. "He was one of the best."
Amy Baker also said her husband had a wonderful laugh. "He always thought my jokes were stupid, but he'd laugh anyway," she said.