I was a fiend of Alan's. He was one of the Army's best and brightest. Not only did he get his college degree with help from the Army, but the Army also specially selected him as one of twenty captains to receive a fully-funded scholarship to Georgetown University to earn his Masters degree in Public Policy Management. After earning his graduate degree, he was specifically selected from among those top-twendy captains to serve in the single highest-profile assignment that someone could serve at his young age: as the Junior Military Assistant to the Deputy Secretary of Defense where he witnessed the highest levels of Department of Defense policy formulation and decisions on a daily basis.

He volunteered for this Iraq mission--the Army didn't force him or even ask him to go. And he was serving in the most important role that we are playing over there--training the Iraqi Army so that they can take over the responsibility of securing their own country and our soldiers can come home.

Alan was a budding national treasure. He will be sorely missed.

My prayers are with this family as such a hard time. There aren't words that can be said to erase this pain. I support the troops but I do not agree wit hthis war.

I have prayed for 2 long years that my friend and family members returned safely and gladly one did just last week. I still have 2 friends and 3 cousins over there.

I'm very sorry for the loss of your friend, David. And my condolences go out to the rest of Alan's friends and the rest of the family. I agree with prettyboy. This war was wrong indeed. And yes, Bush should've been impeached back then.

It is good to hear that he was greatful and that he went to college to continue his education. Most people after HS stop and just go straight to the military.

I am proud of every American soldier that goes and serves our country.. I really am but this war was wrong. Iraq had no mass destruction and our focus should have always been on Bin Laden. Bush should have been impeached before he began serving.. really!

Alan was the first person in his family to go to college and was grateful for all the educational opportunities he was given. He would want other disadvantaged children to have those same opportunities. A memorial scholarship fund has been established in his name. Please visit www.TheAlanGRogersFund.org to learn more about Alan, connect with his friends, and contribute to the memorial scholarship fund.