Soldier's last act was trying to help others

BY LELAND ACKER

Dressed in formal military uniform, 1st Lt. l Tim Cunningham poses with President George W. Bush following graduation from West Point in 2006. The former Rusk resident was killed in Iraq last Thursday.

A former Rusk High School standout and West Point graduate died of injuries he suffered when his vehicle rolled into a canal in Golden Hills, Iraq on April 23. 1st Lt. Timothy W. Cunningham, along with Pfc. John Bishop of Gaylord, Mich. were killed in the accident.

Lt. Cunningham was the son of former Rusk First Baptist Church Music Minister John Cunningham.

Details about the vehicle accident have not been released by the U.S. Department of Defense, but reports in the Houston Chronicle

state Lt. Cunningham was rushing to the aid of another soldier.

Lt. Cunningham is remembered by Rusk High School Principal Ricky Hassell as a standout student.

"He did everything he was supposed to do," Mr. Hassell said. "He was in the honors program and the student council. He was a great kid who did everything he was supposed to do."

Mr. Hassell said Lt. Cunningham left Rusk after his junior year when his family moved to Alvin.

"He went to Texas A&M for a year and a half before receiving his appointment to West Point," Mr. Hassell said. "He wanted to follow in his brother's footsteps."

Mr. Hassell said the news of Lt. Cunningham devastated the Rusk community.

"We've been fortunate to not have an alum killed in Iraq until now," he said. "We have a lot of kids over there."

Brazoria County, where Lt. Cunningham lived prior to deploying to Iraq, is not so lucky.

Mary Moreno, who heads the Military Moms and Wives of Brazoria County group, said Lt. Cunningham's death marked the 10th casualty from Brazoria County in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

"We're a small community and the county speaks for itself," she said. "We're very patriotic. The community here really comes together to show support for the families of our fallen heroes."

Ms. Moreno's organization collects supplies to send in care packages to deployed troops.

Lt. Cunningham is survived by his wife, Samantha, and daughter Abigail, of Ft. Campbell, Ky.; parents; father, John; mother, Cindy, both of Alvin and four siblings.

His awards and decorations include: National Defense Service Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Combat Infantry Badge, Parachutist Badge and Ranger Tab. He joined the Army in May 2006 and was stationed at Ft. Campbell in April 2007.