Cole E. Spencer dies of injuries from I.E.D.

GAYS — The U.S. Army said Tuesday Pvt. Cole Spencer of Gays was killed by a roadside bomb in Iraq on Saturday.

According to the official Web site of the Multi-National Corps in Iraq, Spencer was part of a patrol that was struck.

“Three Task Force Marne soldiers were killed and one was wounded when their patrol was struck by a roadside bomb southeast of Baghdad (Saturday).”

The Department of Defense Web site said the soldiers died in Salman Pak, Iraq, of wounds suffered when their vehicle was struck with an improvised explosive device and small arms fire during combat operations. They were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Benning, Ga.

Spencer’s family also issued a brief statement Tuesday through the office of Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn.

The statement, e-mailed to media, said: “Army Pvt. Cole Spencer of Gays, Illinois, was killed Saturday, April 28, 2007, in Iraq. He was 21 years old.

“Pvt. Spencer attended Heritage Baptist Academy. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials are made to the school in Pvt. Spencer’s name.

“Pvt. Spencer is survived by his parents Mark and Candy Spencer and his brother Brian.

“The family requests that members of the media respect their privacy during this difficult time.”

According to a family friend, Spencer had been in Iraq about a month.

From the Journal Gazette