Little Rock - Army Private William Long was to have been on his way to his first posting today when, instead, he was being eulogized in his hometown.

Long, from Conway, was killed June 1 outside the Army-Navy Career Center in west Little Rock where he had volunteered to tell others about his military experience. A Muslim convert once imprisoned in Yemen has pleaded not guilty to capital murder in Long's death. He allegedly told police he targeted Army personnel "because of what they had done to Muslims in the past."

About 200 people packed into the Harlan Park Baptist Church for the service.

Standing behind his son's open, flag-draped casket, Long's father, Daris Long, read a letter he'd planned to give to his son before his son deployed to South Korea.

Choking up at times, Long told his son to learn his skills quickly, as the chance remained that North Korea could invade South Korea. He placed the letter in the casket. Long was to have deployed on what turned out to be the day of his funeral.

Pastor John Harrington described Long as sharp and gifted, with an infectious smile. He told mourners that Long was a seeker and needed time to find himself. He said the Army was the right fit for the 23-year-old.

Long's father dressed in a blue blazer with military medals attached to a breast pocket. He wore an American flag tie and a red Marine Corps baseball cap.

Pall bearers were from the Arkansas National Guard honor unit.

Gov. Mike Beebe attended the service. Before the proceedings began, Beebe expressed shock that someone would target the American military so far from the battlefield.

Police arrested Abdulhakim Mujahid Muhammad, 23, of Little Rock, shortly after the shooting at the recruiting center and charged him in Long's death and with 16 counts of committing a terroristic act by shooting a rifle in a crowded place.

Pvt. Quinton I. Ezeagwula, 18, of Jacksonville was also wounded in the attack.

 

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

 

 

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