Location: 3012
Date: 1/14/2007
Rank: Sergeant
Branch: U.S. Army
Operation: Operation Iraqi Freedom
SPC James D. Riekena was born February 27th, 1984 in Missoula, Montana. He was the second of five children. He moved to Redmond, WA with his family in 1993 where he attended and graduated from Redmond High School. He was very active in Scouting and attained the rank of Eagle Scout with Redmond Boy Scout Troop 591.
After graduation James moved to Post Falls, Idaho where he joined the National Guard and became a combat engineer specializing in finding and disarming land mines and bombs. James served his first tour in Iraq with the 145th Brigade Support Battalion and upon his return, volunteered for a second assignment in Iraq. James was killed Jan. 14, 2007 when a roadside bomb exploded near his Humvee in Baghdad Iraq. James cared deeply about his family and friends, and if you needed his help he was there for you 100%. He had dreams and schemes that made your head spin. He loved the outdoors, his dogs and he liked to fish. He loved literature and writing and he hoped to go to college to be an English teacher. He is loved and missed everyday by both family and friends.