'Gentle giant' soldier laid to rest in Cedar

CEDAR CITY — Utah's latest fallen soldier, Sgt. 1st Class Ronald Tanner Wood, was remembered by family and friends Tuesday as a "gentle giant" who loved life and the country he served.

"Words just don't do my brother justice. He was a strong man with a heart of gold," Spc. Nathan Wood said of his older brother during memorial services, which were held in the Cedar High School auditorium to allow more people to attend the ceremony.

Photos of an always smiling, burly, muscle-bound Ron Wood were displayed on poster board for everyone to see.

Wood died July 16 in Kirkuk, Iraq, when a roadside bomb struck the armored military Humvee in which he was riding. Two other Utah National Guard soldiers were injured in the attack.

Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. spoke and thanked the Wood family for being so compassionate and kind to others during their time of grief.

"Sgt. Wood gave the ultimate sacrifice for freedom lovers everywhere," the governor said. "But that wouldn't be possible without the Sgt. Woods who gave their all. Let's not forget how these soldiers transform the world."

Huntsman ordered all flags on state facilities flown at half-staff Tuesday.

Wood was a member of Bravo Battery 1st Battalion 148th Field Artillery in Brigham City, now serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom. He grew up in Cedar City and attended the high school where his funeral took place. He was given full military honors.

Adj. Gen. Brian Tarbet of the Utah National Guard called Wood "a true-blue national hero" who will be sorely missed.

Among the awards given to Wood posthumously, and received by his parents, were: a purple heart; a bronze medal for meritorious service; a good-conduct medal for exemplary behavior, service and fidelity; a combat action badge; a global war on terror service medal and an Iraqi combat service medal.

"The only reason I'm standing up here right now is because of your prayers and thoughts," said Wood's father, whom the 28-year-old soldier was named after. "I'm very weak at this time. You're all just holding us up."

The senior Wood thanked the audience of family, friends and strangers — and more than 100 uniformed military and local law enforcement officers — in attendance. Many thousands more were watching or listening to the memorial service, which was broadcast live to locations in Iraq and northern Utah.

"We love you men and women in the Armed Forces. Come back home," his father said. "Ronnie came from a long line of pioneers. He had a belly laugh that I loved to listen to. His former principal told me there wasn't a mean bone in Ron's body. He was the real deal."