Christopher M. North dies from 'wounds suffered when his unit came in contact with enemy forces using an improvised explosive device and small arms'

A soldier from this area is the latest to be killed in Iraq, the Pentagon said today.

The Department of Defense said Pfc. Christopher M. North, 21, of Sarasota, died Saturday from wounds after his unit was hit with roadside bombs and small arms fire during combat in Baghdad.

North was assigned to 1st Battalion, 4th Cavalry of the 4th Brigade, 1st Infantry Division. He joined the Army in July 2005 and began serving at Fort Riley in December 2005. It was his first deployment to Iraq.

North's father, Mark North, a sales representative in Bradenton, said he had two short conversations with his son since he was deployed to Iraq.

He said his son was a "good, kind, caring, friendly, lovable young man."

"He was into cars. He was into motorcycles, anything that went fast. He had more friends than I could ever think about counting," Mark North said. "Everybody got along with him."

Mark North said his son wanted to go into law enforcement and one day join the FBI.

From the Bradenton Herald