Staff Sgt. Sean Diamond memorial service March 17

A memorial service is 6:30 p.m. March 17 for Staff Sgt. Sean Diamond at St. Gall Catholic Church.

Born on St. Patrick's Day 1967, Diamond was killed Sunday by a bomb planted at a job site in As Salam, Iraq.

He is the son of Gardnerville resident Sally Wiley.

"They were building a rifle range," Wiley said Wednesday. "He was going to work on the construction area, going to the same job every day. The first explosion caught the first truck and the second one went off right where Sean was sitting. He was killed instantly."

Diamond will be cremated and transported to Livermore, Calif., where his wife Loramay's family lives.

Wiley said she will leave Friday for the service there.

"It will be the last time we're all together," she said. "It will be interesting to see what the reaction is when the kids see their dad's brother, because they're twins. Uncle Mike looks just like his brother."

Diamond grew up in Dublin, Calif. Wiley said her daughter-in-law has a large extended family there. Plans are for Diamond's widow and children to return to California to live after school is out.

"That's where her family is and it will mean I'm closer to them," she said.

Wiley said members of the Blue Star Moms gathered to help her when she learned of Diamond's death.

"P.J. and all the girls came over and helped me write stuff, and it was wonderful," she said. "I just love our gals. They're so good."

Debbie Walker, mother of Joshua Rodgers who was killed in Afghanistan on May 30, 2007, was with Wiley at her home the night of Diamond's death.

"It's hard, it's very hard," Walker said. "I tried to tell her what our pastor told us about Josh, to try to be positive. That's what really helped us."

Walker said organizations like the Blue Star Mothers and Gold Star Mothers provide invaluable support.

"It's tremendous. You can go and talk to people who have children in the military. I could relate a little better to Sally's loss because of what I went through with Josh. You have friends you can call and cry with. It's important to keep in contact with each other," she said.

Walker said she told Wiley not to be afraid to ask questions of the casualty assistance officer assigned to the family.

Tuesday was Rodgers' 31st birthday. Walker took the day off and watched videos of her son and visited his grave at Eastside Memorial Park in Minden.

When people ask what they can do, Walker said she always gives the same response.

"Let them know to pray for the family and all the soldiers and to never forget them," she said.

On Saturday, Walker and her family will be making their weekly 2-mile walk along Carson Street in honor of the military. Marchers meet at 2 p.m. near the parking lot of Carl's Jr. in south Carson, wearing red and carrying American flags.

Anyone is invited to join as they celebrate Rodgers' life and all the troops.

The family members have been walking since Rodgers was killed nearly two years ago.

"That's what makes me feel better, doing walks for the soldiers," she said.

This week, they will carry Sgt. Sean Diamond and his family in their hearts.

Diamond was assigned to the 610th Engineer Support Company, 14th Engineer Battalion, 555th Engineer Brigade, Fort Lewis, Wash.