Sgt. 1st Class Patrick Ward, a close friend to Staff Sgt. Justin L. Bauer, renders a salute in tribute to his fallen comrade. Ward described Bauer as the "best Soldier he had ever seen" during a memorial ceremony Jan. 16 at Forward Operating Base Loyalty. Bauer served as a squad leader for Company D, 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Multi-National Division - Baghdad. He was killed when an improvised explosive device struck his vehicle during a combat patrol Jan. 10 in Baghdad. Bauer, a native of Loveland, Colo., is survived by his wife Kari, mother Connie L. Haddock and father Gregory L. Bauer.