Richard P. Langenbrunner dies in 'non-combat related incident'

FORT WAYNE - Seven people from Indiana have died in Iraq in the past three weeks as the military announced the death of a soldier from Fort Wayne.

Army Pfc. Richard P. Langenbrunner, 19, died Tuesday in Rustamiyah of non-combat related injuries and the circumstances were under investigation, the Department of Defense said.

Langenbrunner graduated from Northrop High School last year and completed basic combat training in January. He was assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division based at Fort Benning in Georgia.

Kris Kallmeyer, who had Langenbrunner in German class for two years at Northrop High School, said he was shocked to hear the news but remembered bumping into him his senior year in the hallway.

"He was so happy," Kallmeyer said. "I asked him what he was going to do. He said he was joining the Army. He seemed really excited. He wanted to drive a tanker."

From the Wabash Plain Dealer