Jonathan E. Schiller dies of injuries from I.E.D.

An Ottumwa native has been killed by a roadside bomb in Iraq.

The Iowa National Guard say 20-year-old Corporal Jonathan Schiller, son of Liz and Bill Schiller, died Sunday, December 31st south of Baqubah, Iraq.

He was serving with the 215th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team of the 1st Cavalry Divison in the U.S. Army.

According to military officials, Schiller died of wounds suffered when insurgent forces detonated an improvised explosive device right next to the humvee in which he was a passenger.

Schiller was with another solider from Grand Prairie, Texas. Around 3 p.m. Sunday, they were conducting a combat patrol.

Specialist Schiller's remains are currently in Connecticut. Upon arrival in Ottumwa, a funeral service will be planned at Ottumwa High School.

OHS Principal Steve Hanson said Schiller and his two brothers attended and graduated from Ottumwa High School.

Hanson says an announcement about Schiller's death was made Wednesday morning, and a moment of silence was observed.

He says the school's facilities have been offered to the Schiller family as a place to hold the funeral.

Although no date has been set for the service, Hanson suspects it will be early next week.

Today, we talked by phone with fellow members of Specialist Schiller's unit based at Camp Liberty in Bagdad, Iraq.

Captian Isaac Carson relayed these statements from Schiller's commander, Captian Alexander Babington. "Specialist Schiller was a great solider," Babington said. "He was always smiling and never complained. I will always remember his smile, and I will never forget him."

Carson told KTVO that Schiller quickly made a bunch a friends and enjoyed joking with them and starting competitive arguments, which always resulted in hallarious outcomes.

According to Schiller's staff sergent, he was a young man with a great personality and a great sense of humor.

"He will always be remembered by those who had the pleasure to work with him," Reginald Williams said.

Schiller's parents, Bill and Liz Schiller, issued the following statement Wednesday: "It is with great sadness that we learned of the New Year's Eve death of our beloved son, Jonathan E. Schiller, during combat in Iraq. Jon died doing what he loved, serving his country and protecting the freedom of our people and others."

"We are proud of our son's accomplishments and those of his fellow soldiers in the Army and all branches of the military. We are forever grateful to the Army for changing our boy into a man who fought and died defending something that we take for granted every day...freedom! Jon felt that progress was being made in Iraq. As shocked as we are by his death, we are deeply appreciative of the outpouring of support shown by his friends, fellow soldiers and the community."

"We are sure that you can understand and will honor our request for family privacy at this time, as we are focused on working with military officials to return Jon's body home for military services and burial. We thank you for you thoughts, prayers and kindness at this extremely difficult time. As parents, we are deeply saddened by (the loss of our son) but extremely proud of the honorable way he served Americans as a leader in the U.S. Army. We will remember him, his smile and his love for his country with great pride."

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Reece Funeral Home in Ottumwa, and details will be provided as they become available. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Heartland Humane Society, P.O. Box 1149, Ottumwa, Iowa 52501 or to Wesley United Methodist Church at 430 E. 2nd Street, Ottumwa, Iowa 52501.

From KTVO 3