Schofield soldier killed, 10 others injured in Iraq

Advertiser Staff and News Services

A Schofield Barracks soldier was killed yesterday near Kirkuk, Iraq, and 10 others were injured while on patrol. First an explosive device went off, then the soldiers were fired upon, military officials in Tikrit said last night.

Authorities did not name the soldier because his relatives had not been notified. The injured soldiers, also of the 25th Infantry Division (Light) based at Schofield, were in stable condition.

In another attack yesterday, insurgents fired mortar rounds inside a Marine base in Ramadi, killing at least six Navy Seabees from a Florida reserve unit and wounding about 20. The casualties bring to eight the number of sailors killed in three days from the same unit, which arrived just two weeks ago to help rebuild Iraq.

Yesterday's attack was the deadliest for the Navy in the Iraq war.

The attack tore through dozens of Seabees who had gathered for visiting Navy Rear Adm. Charles Kubic. As Kubic stepped away, a mortar round struck about 300 yards from the men. As they scattered, a second mortar round hit close by.

Other attacks killed four other Americans yesterday and late Saturday.