(Updated) Services Tuesday for Albuquerque Soldier Killed in Iraq

UPDATE: Carter Bundy's column on Heath Haussamen provides another fitting tribute to Sgt. Akins and the life he lived.
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Obituary in Albuquerque Journal:

AKIN -- James Christopher Akin, 23, born June 28, 1983 in Albuquerque, NM, passed away on June 2, 2007. James was killed by an IED while driving a humvee in Thania, Iraq. He was preceded in death by his mother, Mae Antonucci. He is survived by his wife, Syreeta Akin and his father, James Akin. He was a Sergeant in the United States Army and worked as a cannon crew member in Field Artillery stationed out of Ft. Lewis, WA. James was a part of the 1st Battalion, 37th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team). He was serving his tour of duty at Camp Taji in Iraq just north of Baghdad.

Services will take place Tuesday, June 12, 2007 at 10:00 a.m. at Calvary Chapel of Albuquerque, 4100 Osuna Rd. NE. Interment will follow at Santa Fe National Cemetery at 1:00 p.m. French Mortuary 9300 Golf Course Rd. NW (505) 897-0300 www.frenchmortuary.com

(AP Photo/Akin Family via Victor Raigoza)

As stated in a previous guest blog by Victor Raigoza, Democrats are being urged to attend the service:

At the request of Mrs. Syreeta Akin, James' widow, I am asking that all Democrats attend his service ... The reason Syreeta wants Democrats there is because James loved the Democratic party and had aspirations of one day serving the people of New Mexico and the United States in the capacity of an elected official.

From Brian Colón, Chairman of the Democratic Party of New Mexico:

Dear Fellow Democrats,

Please join us on Tuesday, June 12 at 10:00 AM to honor fallen soldier and hero Sgt. James C. Akin of Albuquerque. The tragedy is a great loss for the State of New Mexico and the United States of America.  Sgt, Akin was a young man who accomplished so much in such a short time and by his own words recognized that "the measure of our progress is not whether we can provide more for those who have plenty, but whether we can provide enough to those who have little." His life of service and desire to be a part of New Mexico's political landscape is inspiring to many.

Please join us in the comforting thoughts and prayers we are sending out to Sgt. Akin's family.  Included below is Sgt. Akin's brief obituary, which can not begin to describe the impact he had and the inspiration he was to so many.

Let us also not forget the other New Mexicans and Americans that have given their lives in service to our country.

Respectfully,
Brian Colon

Albuquerque soldier killed in Baghdad
The Associated Press

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A New Mexico soldier who wanted to someday become president of the U.S. has been killed in Iraq.

Army Sgt. James C. Akin, 23, and three other soldiers were killed June 3 near Baghdad when the Humvee that Akin was driving was destroyed by a bomb, family spokesman Victor Raigoza said. Akin would have been 24 on June 28, according to his wife, Syreeta, of Rio Rancho.

“He was willing to put his actions where his mouth was,” Raigoza said. “If he one day occupied the office where war would be determined, [he felt] that it would be necessary for him to have experienced that.”

Syreeta Akin wrote on his Web page — https://www.myspace.com/akin_for_president — on the social networking site MySpace.com: “You always did what you loved to do, and that is serve your country. I appreciate your sacrifice and well as all others before you. Without people like you where would our country be?”

The Web page has turned into a memorial for Akin, with comments from family, friends and Army buddies.

The U.S. Department of Defense had not confirmed Akin’s death as of June 6.

Funeral services are pending, and Akin will be buried in the National Cemetery in Santa Fe, Raigoza said.

Akin, an Albuquerque native and 2001 Valley High School graduate who joined the Army in 2004, was a self-professed politics and sports junkie. He worked on Raigoza’s 2004 campaign when Raigoza sought the Democratic nomination for a state Senate seat.

“We ended up spending three months together, almost day and night,” Raigoza recalled.

He said he worried when Akin was deployed. Because of Akin’s gregarity and leadership qualities, he felt at the time “there’s a good chance James will never come back,” Raigoza said.

In addition to his wife, Akin is survived by his father, James W. Akin of Albuquerque. His mother, Marianne, died in October, Raigoza said.