Bomb Kills 3 from 101st

[rchiruck]

Bomb kills 3 from 101st
502nd infantrymen's Humvee hit with roadside bomb near Baghdad
By HEATHER DONAHOE
The Leaf-Chronicle



Three soldiers with the 101st Airborne Division died Wednesday in Baghdad, Iraq, following injuries suffered after a roadside bomb exploded near their Humvee in Latifiyah, Iraq.

Wednesday's bomb killed Spc. Benjamin A. Smith, 21, of Hudson, Wis.; Spc. Joshua J. Munger, 22, of Maysville, Mo.; and Pfc. Tyler R. MacKenzie, 20, of Evans, Colo.



The soldiers were infantrymen with the 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team.

The three were supporting Task Force Baghdad in Latifiyah, roughly 25 miles south of Baghdad.

Smith is survived by his parents, James and Lenore Smith, also of Hudson, Wis.

He deployed with the 101st a little more than a month ago for his second tour of duty in Iraq.

"He lived life large and loved new adventures," Lenore Smith said of her son Friday night in a telephone interview from Hudson. "He believed in the mission and told us he knew what they were doing was right.

"He felt like he wasn't doing his job when he was stateside," she said.

"He couldn't wait to deploy again," Lenore Smith continued.

Benjamin Smith, who was a member of Civil Air Patrol in high school, talked of eventually becoming a Special Forces soldier, his mother said.

He enlisted in the Army after graduating high school in 2003.

"His father and I fully supported his decision to join the Army — an honorable decision," she said. "We are very proud of him and the life path he chose."

Friday's news of the deaths came three days after the Army announced four other 101st soldiers were killed when a roadside bomb exploded near their Humvee south of Baghdad.

Lenore Smith said Benjamin e-mailed his older brother, Orion, Tuesday, following the news of those deaths.

"He just wanted the family to know it wasn't him and that he was OK," Lenore Smith said.

Spc. Munger entered the Army in 2002. He is survived by his wife, Alysha B. Munger, and their 11-month-old son, Colton.

Pfc. MacKenzie is survived by his parents, David and Julie MacKenzie, also of Evans, Colo. He joined the Army in January.

The Fort Campbell Public Affairs Office issued a statement through PAO Kelly Tyler Friday regarding the most recent casualties.

"As always we are deeply saddened by the loss of our soldiers," Tyler said. "Our hearts and our support go out to their families, friends and fellow soldiers. We will do everything possible as an Army family to care for our families who have lost their loved ones."

Approximately 17,700 troops from Fort Campbell are deployed.

Nearly 16,200 101st Airborne Division soldiers are deployed supporting the division's rotation in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Roughly 1,500 soldiers assigned to 101st and Fort Campbell units are deployed on separate missions for Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom and other missions.



http://www.theleafchronicle.com/apps...511050329/1002

[Batgirl]

Rest in peace

[rchiruck]

I actually knew MacKenzie back when he was still in the division, great guy to be around. Always laughing... RIP bro.

[Grimmy]

Rest in Peace Soldiers.

[Brad]

Rest in Peace.

[SSGMike.Ivy]

RIP Soldiers

[Frisbee]

Fallen Eagles ..... RIP

[SGTBelcher29]

I knew SPC Smith very well...Ben was in my SQD on OIF 1.

Rest easy...your sacrifices will not be in vain.

[66MP1]

Rest in peace brothers and may God Bless their families.