Sgt. Rocky Payne was killed in Baghdad on March 16 when his Humvee was struck by a roadside bomb. Payne was a marine during the initial assault on Baghdad and returned as an army gunner with the 497th transportation company a year prior to his death.

Sgt. Rocky Payne was posthumously promoted to the rank of sergeant upon his death.

 

Sergeant Rocky Dennis Payne was born on May 19, 1978 in Brigham City, Utah to Dennis William and Percilla Marie Abbott Payne.
Rocky was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Howell Ward. He served a stake mission, was a seminary graduate, an Eagle Scout and received his GED. He excelled in playing the piano and played by ear. He was mechanical, especially in auto mechanics and electronics. Rocky loved animals and was drawn to children of all ages. He is known for being a practical joker.
Rocky served in the Marine Corps for four and a half years. While in the Marines he served humanitarian missions in Africa, Yemen, Australia, Philippines and was involved in the initial assault on Baghdad. Rocky was honorably discharged from the Marine Corp and then he re-enlisted in the Army and was sent to Iraq in June of 2004. At the time of his death, he was serving with the 497th Transportation Company out of Ft. Lewis, WA supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom in Baghdad, Iraq. He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star Medal.
While Rocky was eligible to be buried in the Arlington National Cemetery his family’s wish was to bring him home to be buried in Howell with full military honors provided by the Utah Army National Guard.