Richard V. Correa dies of 'wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his position during a dismounted patrol'

A 25-year-old soldier from Honolulu was killed Tuesday by a roadside bomb in Iraq.

The Pentagon identified the soldier as Sgt. Richard V. Correa.

He and another soldier, 31-year-old Staff Sgt. Joseph M. Weiglein from New Jersey, were killed while on foot patrol in Ilbu Falris. The soldiers were assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), based at Fort Drum, N.Y.

A Fort Drum spokeswoman said Correa enlisted in the Army in November 2000 and was assigned to the 10th Mountain Division in October 2005.

He is single.

Correa’s unit deployed to Iraq in August 2006 and its year-long tour also has been extended for three months. Correa was a squad leader, according to a news release from Fort Drum.

His awards include the Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal as well as several other Army and Air Force awards.

Since the United States invaded Iraq in March 2003, 56 soldiers, three sailors, 79 Marines, one Air Force personnel and one civilian with Hawaii ties have been killed there.

From the Honolulu Star-Bulletin