Explosion in Iraq claims 2001 Lone Peak graduate

A Highland family is mourning the death of Senior Airman William N. Newman, who was killed south of Balad, Iraq, Thursday.

Newman, 23, lived with Jay and Connie Stephens for 12 years as one of their foster children, but their bond is closer than that. Newman's mother is the Stephens' niece.

According to the U.S. Department of Defense, Newman died of wounds suffered from an improvised explosive device.

Jay Stephens said the information he has received indicates Newman, as a member of the Explosive Ordinance Disposal Team, may have been trying to dismantle the IED because civilians were nearby.

Newman attended Lone Peak High School, graduating in 2001.

Stephens told KSL-TV that Newman was a yell leader at Lone Peak and enjoyed break dancing.

"He was pretty incredible with some of the maneuvers he could do in break dancing, and that led to the cheer squad," he told the television station.

Shortly after graduation, Newman moved to Tennessee to live with his father and joined the Air Force, a decision that surprised him, Jay Stephens told the Deseret Morning News.

Equally surprising was Newman's decision to join the Air Force's bomb squad.

He was stationed at Hickam Air Force Base, in Honolulu, where he lived with his wife, So Young, whom he met while in Florida.

The couple had been married about one year.

"William was an incredible young man," Stephens recollects. "He was always so focused on what really needed to be done."

Jay Stephens said he will always remember the kind of young man Newman was in spite of his parents' turbulent divorce.

"He remained quite positive," Stephens said. "He never complained."

Newman was obedient to the Stephens' rules and was well-liked by his friends, Stephens said.

Funeral plans are in So Young's hands, Stephens said, adding that he suspects Newman will be buried close to his siblings in Tennessee.

"I love him and regard him as one of my own children," Stephens said.

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E-mail: jdougherty@desnews.com