Kenneth L. Ridgley

TACOMA, Wash. — As a child, Sgt. Kenneth L. Ridgley was a curious youngster who loved horses and dreamed of becoming a soldier. He used to hang out at local military recruiting stations in his hometown of Olney, Ill.

Family members in Steilacoom, Wash., had been looking forward to a visit from Ridgley when they learned he’d been killed by gunfire in an attack on a combat team. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, part of the 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, based at Fort Lewis, Wash.

“He was scheduled for leave in a month or so,” said Earl Strausbaugh, Ridgley’s brother-in-law. “That was something they were anticipating greatly.”

Ridgley married Strausbaugh’s sister, Charity, in August and had been in the process of adopting her 3-year-old son, Dillon. The couple bought a house in Steilacoom shortly before he was deployed in October....