82nd casualty

Courtesy: Lincoln Journal Star. June 3. 2009.

The father of a 31-year-old Moline native who died Tuesday in Iraq said his son was promoted to sergeant in March, less than a year after joining the Army.

“He actually was able to beat the standard time it takes to become a sergeant,” Joe Duffy of Cozad, Neb., said of his son, Sgt. Justin J. Duffy. “So he was really proud of that.”

Justin Duffy died in Baghdad after the Humvee he was driving hit an improvised explosive device shortly after 1 p.m. local Iraqi time Tuesday, according to the Department of Defense.

He was the only soldier who died in the blast, although three others were injured, his father said.

He was assigned to the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division based in Fort Bragg, N.C. In Baghdad, his unit was based at Camp Loyalty and provided security for military leadership.

Justin Duffy grew up in Moline, Ill., and moved with his family to Cozad when he was in the sixth grade.

After graduating from Cozad High School in 1995, he earned a degree in criminal justice from the University of Nebraska at Kearney. He worked for Eaton Corp. in Kearney for five years before joining the Army.

“He didn’t see a future in the manufacturing environment and needed more of a challenge,” Joe Duffy said. “He found the challenge in the U.S. Army.”

He said his son’s unit was busy in Iraq, going on one to two operations a day, six days a week. It provided escort security for high-ranking Army officials.

“Most of the operations were very uneventful,” Joe Duffy said.

He said his son had a strong will and pursued his goals fervently.

“He wouldn’t take no,” Joe Duffy said. “He wouldn’t stop. He had a very strong work ethic and drive.”

He said his son also enjoyed spending time with friends.

He leaves behind his parents, including his mother, Janet Duffy of Cozad, and his grandfather, LeRoy Hood of Moline.

Funeral arrangements are pending at Rafferty Funeral Home, 2111 1st St. A, Moline, Ill. He will be buried at Rock Island National Cemetery on Arsenal Island.

His family is planning a memorial service in Cozad after his funeral.

“My wife and I had nothing but pride in our son,” Joe Duffy said. “He made a choice, a difficult choice. He was going to make a career of the Army.”

The Lincoln Journal Star is a Lee Enterprises newspaper. The Associated Press contributed to this report.