Blast kills Schofield soldier in Iraq
A Schofield Barracks soldier was killed by a roadside bomb Sunday in Iraq.
The Pentagon reported yesterday that Pfc. Joseph I. Love, 22, of North Pole, Alaska, was killed in Balad when an improvised explosive device detonated near his Humvee during convoy operations.
Love was assigned to the 84th Engineer Combat Battalion (Heavy), 8th Sustainment Command (Theater), under the control of U.S. Army Pacific at Fort Shafter. It was the third combat loss for the unit, which returned to Iraq in December after being home for less than a year.
Two other members of the unit, Staff Sgt. Oscar D. Medina, 32, of Chicago and Spc. Ramon C. Ojeda, 22, of Ramona, Calif., were killed May 1 in combat operations south of Al Amarah.
The Pentagon reported that the 84th Engineers, with 600 soldiers, has been stationed at Logistical Support Area Anaconda since February.
The unit consists of three companies from Schofield Barracks and a company from Alaska. The Army Reserve 277th Construction Support Company and the National Guard 116th Support Equipment Company are also part of the battalion.
A total of 28 soldiers, 47 Marines and a civilian with Hawaii ties have been killed in Iraq since the war started in March 2003. The 47 Marines include three who died so far this year.
This summer, more than 7,000 Schofield soldiers, including the headquarters of the 25th Infantry Division and the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, will be deployed to Iraq for a year.
In Afghanistan, 15 soldiers, 10 Marines and six sailors with Hawaii ties have been killed.
The Legislature next week plans to honor all the military personnel with Hawaii ties killed in both countries by awarding their families the newly minted Hawaii Medal of Honor approved by lawmakers last year.