Donald M. Young dies 'of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle'

A soldier with family in Springfield died Wednesday after being injured by an improvised explosive device in Baghdad the day before.

Spc. Donald M. Young, 19, of Helena, Mont., was wounded during combat operations Tuesday when an IED exploded near his vehicle, the Department of Defense announced today.

Maj. Garth Scott, a spokesman for the Montana National Guard, said Young had family in the Springfield area.

“His mother and his sister live in Missouri,” Scott said.

The Montana National Guard, at the request of the Army, has assigned a casualty assistance officer to work with Young’s wife and father in Helena, Scott said.

Scott said Young had lived in Helena for the past several years. He did not know whether Young had ever lived in the Springfield area.

Young was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division in Fort Hood, Texas.

From the News-Leader