A belief in patriotism

When Ken Westbrook was growing up in Shiprock, he knew military service was his life's calling, a calling he answered by making it his career and by giving his life.

Army Sgt. 1st Class Kenneth W. Westbrook, 41, died Oct. 7 at Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington, D.C., of wounds suffered Sept. 8 when insurgents attacked his unit in the Ganjgal Valley of Afghanistan.

He was assigned to the 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division.

Kenneth is Kinlichíi'nii (Red House Clan), born for Bilagáana (Anglo). He is the son of Marshall and Ruth A. Westbrook of Farmington.

"He was an awesome person and he loved his boys so much," said his wife Charlene in a telephone interview Tuesday from the couple's home in Fountain, Colo.

The couple has three sons - Zachary, 20, Joshua, 18, and Joseph, 14.

Charlene, 40, is Táchii'nii (Red Running into Water Clan), born for Hooghanlání (Many Hogans Clan) and is the daughter of Charley P. and Maxine Joe of Shiprock.

A funeral service is scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 16, at the Farmington Civic Center (200 W. Arrington St.). Burial will be in Shiprock.

A correspondent with McClatchy Newspapers reported an account of the Sept. 8 attack. That report, along with a slideshow and audio, is posted on the company's Web site.

According to Charlene, Kenneth was flown Sept. 11 from Germany to Washington. She joined him Sept. 12 and stayed with him until his death.

"I was there the whole time, by his side," she said.

Kenneth and Charlene meet at Tsé' Bit'aí' Middle School in Shiprock when he was 14 and she was 13.

"He kept bothering me and I didn't want to talk to him," she said about their early encounter.

They eventually became friends and their relationship slowly deepened.

"Everyone knew," she said. "They would say, 'There's Kenneth and Charlene.'"

The couple tolerated teasing from friends about the years they knew each other.

"How long have you known Kenneth? Since kindergarten?" was a frequent comment from their friends, Charlene recalled.

Marriage entered the picture when they were juniors at Shiprock High School, but they waited until they graduated in 1987. The couple married Oct. 20, 1987, in a small ceremony because Kenneth was not one for elaborated celebrations, Charlene said.

"It was pretty neat," she said about marrying her childhood sweetheart.

Charlene plans to honor their 22nd anniversary next week by purchasing roses, the gift Kenneth sent each year.

David Westbrook, one of Kenneth's brothers, described Kenneth as "a likeable person" who was "kind and gentle."

"When Navajos are called to war, they go as warriors," David said.

Kenneth's death is the second loss for the Westbrook family.

His brother, Army Sgt. Marshall A. Westbrook, 43, of Farmington, was killed Oct. 1, 2005, in Iraq. Marshall was assigned to the 126th Military Police Co. of the New Mexico Army National Guard.

Marshall, also called "Alan" by family, and Kenneth were the "best of brothers," Charlene said.

"We believe in God and his son Jesus Christ and we believe in the hereafter and we believe Kenneth and Alan are there," said David, 50. "We know they will be there when we pass on."

Since the news broke, people have been visiting the family at David's residence in Farmington. They have heard from other military families who have lost loved ones and from support organizations, such as the Blue Star Mothers of America. The support has been an extra comfort to David's parents.

"They're handling it," he said. "It's hard to lose one son but it's now two."

Alan and Kenneth both followed in the footsteps of their father, who served for 21 years. After Marshall Sr.'s retirement, the family moved to Shiprock.

"Kenneth and Alan had it in their hearts," David said about his brothers' choice of military service.

Brian Victor became friends with Kenneth in elementary school. Throughout their school years, they participated in band and on the football team.

"When his brother enlisted, there was definitely nothing stopping Ken from enlisting as well," Victor said in an Oct. 14 e-mail. "If not for his brother and his dad then it was because he was instilled with the belief of patriotism."

Charlene said that throughout her and Kenneth's budding relationship, he talked about joining the military. He enrolled in the Delayed Entry Program and joined the Army after graduating high school.

Throughout Kenneth's service, his family moved to Fort Irwin, Calif.; Fort Lewis, Wash.; Fort Jackson, S.C.; Fort Knox, Ky.; Fort Campbell, Ky.; and Germany.

When Kenneth was assigned to Fort Carson, Colo., in 2000, the family purchased a home in Fountain, located 10 miles south of Colorado Springs.

"I told him that I refuse to move anymore," Charlene said. "Your only option is to buy me a house."

Kenneth was assigned to Fort Riley in 2008 to receive training for his tour in Afghanistan. Whenever he got time off, he drove the eight hours back to Fountain to be with Charlene and their sons.

Charlene noted that Fort Riley is Kenneth's birthplace.

"It was where he was born and where he ended his career," she said.

That career was scheduled to end soon with retirement but the last-minute combat assignment to Afghanistan delayed the plan, Charlene said.

Kenneth told his family that he would return, retire and then "you'll have me," she said.

Kenneth served in the 1991 Persian Gulf War and in Iraq in 2007. His brother, Richard Westbrook, of Kirtland, N.M., and sister, Sandra Ray, of Farmington, also survives him.

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