With combat experience in Afghanistan already under his belt, Arvanitis had an opportunity that would make the hearts of some soldiers leap: He could stay in the US instead of shipping out to Iraq. "He had orders to be a recruiter, and he turned them down," said his sister, Kimberly Arvanitis. "He didn't want to be a desk guy -- his place was in the field, fighting with the others." Arvanitis was killed by enemy fire near Bayji.