Richard A. Soukenka dies of injuries from I.E.D.

A soldier from North County was killed last week when a bomb went off near the vehicle he was riding in.

Sgt. Richard A. Soukenka, 30, was a combat engineer assigned to Company A, 2nd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division.

The Oceanside, Calif., native joined the Army in February 1999 and completed basic and advanced individual training at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., in November 1999.

His first assignment was with the 41st Engineer Battalion here from November 1999 to March 2003 when he was reassigned to 40th Engineer Battalion based in Baumholder, Germany.

Soukenka returned to the North Country in March 2005 when he was assigned to the 2nd Brigade Combat Team.

His military education includes the Field Sanitation Team Certification Course.

Soukenka's awards and decorations include the Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon and the Combat Action Badge.

He is survived by wife, Seok Soukenka, his mother, Rita May Garcia, and his father, Ivan Soukenka Sr.

From WSYR 9