Joseph C. Dumas killed by roadside bomb

A roadside bomb in Iraq killed Army Spc. Joseph Claude Dumas Jr., 25, of New Orleans earlier this week along with three other soldiers in his division, the Department of Defense said Friday.

Officials said Dumas was killed Tuesday in Baghdad when a makeshift explosive device detonated near the military vehicle the soldiers were traveling in.

Dumas was assigned to the Army's 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division out of Fort Hood, Texas.

Dumas joined the military in August 2003 and was assigned to Fort Hood in January 2004. He earned various military awards and decorations, including the Army Service Ribbon, Global War on Terrorism (service) Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal and the Basic Marksmanship Qualification Badge, Expert.

None of Dumas's family or friends could be reached for comment.

From the Times Picayune