Robert L. Voakes Jr

A LIFE REMEMBERED

We speak the name.

Army Pfc. Robert L. Voakes Jr. died of wounds suffered June 4, in Laghman province, Afghanistan, when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. Also killed were Spc. Devin A. Snyder, Sgt. Joshua D. Powell and Sgt. Christopher R. Bell. Soldier, 21, from L&rsquoAnse killed in Afghanistan The Associated Press L&rsquoANSE, Mich. &mdash A soldier described as soft-spoken and polite by those who remembered him from his days growing up in the Upper Peninsula has been killed in Afghanistan. Pfc. Robert L. Voakes Jr., 21, of L&rsquoAnse was among four soldiers who died when insurgents attacked their unit with an improvised explosive device June 4 in Laghman province, the Defense Department said. They were assigned to a military police battalion from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. Voakes&rsquo remains were returned to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware on June 6. The 2009 Baraga High School graduate was &ldquoa very quiet, polite young man who went about his business,&rdquo principal Dennis Ruuspakka told The Mining Journal of Marquette. &ldquoHe was very well liked by every teacher and by every student at the school.&rdquo Bruce Rundman, a former basketball coach and the guidance counselor at Baraga High, remembered Voakes as having &ldquohad a real gentle presence and a quiet wit. Robert was really funny, but unfailingly polite.&rdquo Rundman said Voakes provided him with one of the &ldquobest laughs of my coaching career. The JVs were scrimmaging the varsity, and it was shirts and skins. Robert looked at me and said, &lsquoHey coach, when are you going to take your sweater vest off?&rsquo &ldquoRobert wasn&rsquot a class clown, but had a really great sense of humor.&rdquo