Fallen soldier planned to propose on next trip home (had to pay for his own equipment)

[Ian David]

NEWPORT, N.H. -- The Newport soldier killed in Iraq this week planned to propose marriage to his long-time girlfriend during an upcoming leave.

Army Spc. Justin Rollins was killed by a roadside bomb Monday. He was 22.



His father, Skip Rollins, said he was scheduled to come home in about three weeks and planned to pop the question to girlfriend Brittney Murray.

"We love Brittany like she was our own daughter," Skip Rollins said. "We were looking forward to having her as our daughter-in-law."

Skip Rollins said his son had recently purchased a diamond ring for Murray. Rollins was scheduled to have a two-week break in March or April and be rotated out of Iraq in August, his father said.

The 2003 Newport High School graduate was an infantryman in the 82nd Airborne. He recently was promoted to squad sniper.

"The Army gave him a dinky little scope," said the elder Rollins. "He went out and spent $600 of his own money so he could shoot farther."

More:
http://www1.whdh.com/news/articles/local/BO45443/