Blast kills city man
Third soldier this week dies in Iraq

By Chad Crow
Published: June 24, 2007
Modified: June 25, 2007 at 1:01 am

Another Army soldier from Oklahoma died in combat last week in Iraq.

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Spc. Derek Calhoun

Armored tank driver Spc. Derek Calhoun died when the Humvee he was riding in hit an explosive device near Baghdad on Saturday, a family member said.

Calhoun, 23, of Oklahoma City is the third soldier from Oklahoma to have died in the past week.

On Sunday, family members said they didn't know any more about his death, but added they had a lot of questions for the Army.

Calhoun, who had been in Iraq for about eight months on his first tour of duty, was hurt several months ago when a car bomb exploded outside a building he was inside.

"Derek had shrapnel in his wrist, abdomen and shoulder, and they had to operate on him twice,” said Derek's mother, Lou Calhoun. "I don't know why he wasn't sent home then.”

Because of his injuries, Calhoun was unable to use his right hand, Lou Calhoun said.

"Supposedly, he wasn't supposed to be out on a mission,” Lou Calhoun said.

But he was in a Humvee on Saturday when he died.

Before entering the Army, Calhoun graduated from Wright Business School as a certified medical assistant. He had hoped to work in the medical field after finishing his service, Lou Calhoun said.

He loved fishing, all kinds of sports — football, baseball and basketball — and spending time with his family.

"His three nieces and one nephew were all pretty special to him,” Lou Calhoun said.

In honor of Calhoun, one of his friends on My Space headlined her profile with, ‘R.I.P. Derek Calhoun I will miss you!'

Lou Calhoun asked on Sunday for people to "just pray for the soldiers.”

Services have not been set, but will be held at the Calhoun's home church, the South Lindsey Baptist Church in Oklahoma City, she said.

Pfc. Thomas Ray Leemhuis, 23, of Anadarko, and Sgt. Ryan M. Wood, 22, of Oklahoma City, both were killed Thursday in Baghdad. As of Sunday night, the U.S. Defense Department had not confirmed their deaths.