Kenneth W. Haines dies of injuries from I.E.D.

Fulton (WSYR-TV) - A 25 year old soldier from Fulton died this week in Iraq. Kenny Haines was killed while patrolling Abu Hishma and an IED detonated near his vehicle.

This was the second time Haines had been deployed to Iraq, the first time for a year, this time it had been only two months.

Haines leaves behind a Fulton man who raised him.

Kirk McMillan has kept these medals hanging in his trailer since Kenny Haines won them more than six years ago.

His biggest achievement, though, was taking in the 12 year old and raising a soft spoken, focused teen that played sports and the tuba all through school.

Right after his wrestling days in Fulton, Kenny joined the army. Four years later he re-enlisted on Sunday he was on his second tour of duty in Iraq.

“In fact,” McMillan says, “his goal was to join the FBI and go to the academy after finishing his second enlistment.”

Now that he won't finish his second enlistment, last Christmas will be the final memory at home. Kenny's still managed to give his surrogate dad another honor to be proud of, dying while serving his country.

Haines joins the list of 2921 Americans who have been killed in the Iraq war since 2003.

Two other patrolmen were with him when the IED exploded; they are in critical condition overseas.

From WSYR 9