Damon G. Legrand dies of 'wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with anti-tank mines, rocket-propelled grenades and small arms fire'

SAN DIEGO -- An ambush earlier this week in Iraq claimed the life of a soldier who grew up in San Diego.

According to the Department of Defense, Legrand died Tuesday while driving a Humvee with his unit in Baghdad. The convoy came under attack by insurgents who fired up Legrand's unit with anti-tank mines, rocket-propelled grenades and small arms fire.

Legrand was a 1995 graduate of Clairemont High School. Posted on his MySpace account are photographs of him and his wife, Ashley, and two young daughters. They now live with Legrand's parents in Idaho Falls, Idaho.

Ashley last posted a message to Legrand a week before his death, saying she missed him, loved him and, "Can you come now, please? Muah!"

Word of Legrand's fate has now prompted postings of tribute and condolences from friends.

"Vaya con dios!" -- go with God -- reads one.

Legrand was one of 13 soldiers from Fort Lewis who were killed in Iraq this month. The U.S. military death toll in Operation Iraqi Freedom now stands at 3,514.

From NBC 7