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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted at 11:56 a.m., Wednesday, October 26, 2005

Soldier attached to Hawai'i Guard killed

By Mike Gordon
Advertiser Staff Writer

A Kansas soldier deployed with the Hawai'i National Guard in Iraq died today from injuries he suffered Sunday when insurgents detonated a roadside bomb, a guard spokesman in Iraq said.

Sgt. Parker Evans died at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany, said Capt. Kyle Yonemura, spokesman for the 29th Brigade Combat Team. Evans' age was unavailable.

Evans was a forward artillery observer assigned to the 1st Battalion, 487th Field Artillery.

His death comes a day after U.S. losses in Iraq reached 2,000.

Evans was manning a checkpoint Sunday on a stretch of road west of LSA Anaconda, which is outside of Baghdad, Yonemura said. About 12:30 a.m., insurgents set off an improvised explosive device at the checkpoint, seriously injuring Evans and another soldier.

The insurgents were captured not far from the scene of the blast.

Two other soldiers suffered minor injuries in the attack. They were treated and returned to duty.

Evans and the other seriously injured soldier were flown to Germany. The condition of the other soldier was not available, but he was stable.

Evans was activated for deployment from the Inactive Ready Reserve, a status that puts soldiers who have left military service on a stand-by basis for as many as six years.

A memorial service is being planned for Evans.

About 2,200 Hawai'i soldiers are in their ninth month of a year-long deployment to Iraq and Kuwait. Guard personnel and reservists from all over the United States have been attached to the Hawai'i group for the deployment.

Reach Mike Gordon at mgordon@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8012.