James L. Arnold
Private First Class, United States Army
February 22, 1986 – March 15, 2007
Age – 21
Mattawan, MI
Operation Iraqi Freedom
1st Squadron, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, TX
Killed when an improvised explosive device detonated near his unit while conducting combat operations in Baghdad, Iraq.
Growing up with four sisters, James L. Arnold often laughed that he had four extra moms.
Our favorite game to play with Jimmy growing up was, ‘Jimmy, who is your favorite sister?’ said one of the sisters. He just picked whoever had been the nicest to him in the last five minutes.
Arnold, who was 6-foot-4, was an avid paintball and hockey fan, a sport he played as a youngster and in high school. He was very laid back and easygoing. He didn’t have to say, ‘Hey, I’m here.’ You just knew he was there. He was a graduate of Mattawan High School (Class of 2004). He was an enthusiastic hockey player, with school spirit to spare. He helped start the “Blue Crew” to cheer at events. His coaches said he was one of the best all-around people that they had in their coaching experience. He was just a good kid to be around. He had a great sense of humor and was a very honest, hardworking kid.
Even after Arnold had graduated, he would always go to the games, shake the coaches’ hands and ask how the team was doing. He was interested in the success of the program.
Jimmy was one of 10 original Mattawan Fire Department cadets who had graduated from a program designed to give teenagers a sense of what it takes to be involved with the fire department. He was a person always willing to help with tasks around the department. Joining the cadet program at age 16, Jimmy took part in fire department cleaning details and pump tests, making sure things were ready to go. He organized any problem and handled odds-and-ends that we needed done.