Wife calls soldier her 'hero'

The wife of a Santa Rosa soldier killed over the weekend in Iraq said Monday she was proud of her husband, Army Staff Sgt. Jesse Lawrence Williams.

?He fulfilled his destiny and his dreams to serve his country,? Sonya Glidden Williams of Santa Rosa said in a statement released by the family. ?I have never been more proud of him. He is my hero.?

Sonya Williams and the soldier?s father, Santa Rosa political consultant Herb Williams, were notified of Jesse Williams? death by military officials Sunday night.

No details of Williams? death were available Monday, and the Pentagon had not officially announced his death.

Williams, 25, who attended Santa Rosa schools, joined the Army in 2001. He was on his second tour in Iraq, assigned to the 3rd Stryker Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division based at Fort Lewis, Washington.

Jesse and Sonya Williams had a daughter, Amaya, born on May 22, 2006.

The soldier spent nearly five weeks with Amaya before he deployed to Iraq and saw her again for two weeks while he was on leave in December.

?I want to teach our daughter to know her father?s heart and his honor,? Sonya Williams said.

Herb Williams said he talked to his son before he departed on his last mission. ?We talked and I was able to again tell him how much I loved him,? the father said. ?I am so glad I had that window of opportunity.?

Herb Williams said his son ?grew up to become a man of his word. He was a good man in every sense of the word.?

Jesse Williams was the sixth service member from Sonoma County to die in Iraq.