Coullard was killed Aug. 1, 2005, by small-arms fire while patrolling with his Marine unit outside Haditha. He spent about 10 years in the Marine Reserves before volunteering for active duty in Iraq. A skilled hunter, he also worked as a union pipefitter. A fellow sergeant's eulogy said of him, "Dave would always speak his mind, regardless of repercussions. If he didn't think something was right, he would fix it."