Love of Adopted Country Celebrated
Soldier Laid to Rest, Granted Citizenship

By Lila de Tantillo
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, November 5, 2005; Page B03

Spec. Kendell K. Frederick was born in Trinidad and moved to the United States in his early teens. Although he was not a citizen, he loved his adopted country so much that he enlisted in the Army Reserve.

He was pursuing U.S. citizenship when he was killed in Iraq on Oct. 19. Frederick, 21, of Randallstown, died at 6:15 p.m. when an improvised explosive devise detonated near his vehicle. He was in the last truck of a convoy when the explosion occurred.

Yesterday, Frederick, one of five Marylanders killed in Iraq last month, was laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery. During the ceremony, his family received a certificate that granted Frederick U.S. citizenship posthumously.

Frederick was also awarded a Purple Heart, a Bronze Star, a Meritorious Service Medal and a posthumous promotion to sergeant, according to Maj. Greg Yesko, a spokesman for the 99th Regional Readiness Command, which includes Maryland.

More than 200 mourners paid their respects to Frederick at his final resting place. After a three-volley rifle tribute, a bugler played taps as a yellow butterfly fluttered over the flag-draped coffin.

An honor guard solemnly folded the flag and handed it to Major Gen. William H. Johnson, who knelt to present it to Frederick's mother, Michelle Murphy. Another flag was presented to his father, Peter Ramsahai, and a third to his grandfather, Kenneth Rogers.

Elaine Hyatt, a neighbor who had known Frederick for several years, saw him during his recent leave. She was pulling into her driveway when she spotted the brilliant smile.

"You have never seen a smile like this young man had," Hyatt said. "That smile just warmed your heart. It kind of made you want to sing inside."

Hyatt had watched Frederick play in the back yard with his toddler brother, Kwesi, during his visit and said the little one clung to his older brother like glue.

"This is a young man who gave his life for all of us," Hyatt said. "It's a tremendous loss for everybody."


Bush, Cheney and Rumsfeld should be charged for war crimes.