Jaime Rodriguez dies 'of wounds sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle'

An Army soldier from Oxnard was killed last week in Iraq, bringing to 16 the number of military deaths from Ventura County.

Spc. Jaime Rodriguez, 19, was killed Thursday in Saqlawiyah, Iraq, when an improvised explosive device detonated near a vehicle he was in, according to a Department of Defense press release.

Also killed in the blast were Sgt. William R. Howdeshell, 37, of Norfolk, Va. and Spc. Charles E Bilbrey, Jr., 21, of Owego, N.Y.

No other details were available regarding the incident, said Kevin Larson, spokesman at Fort Stewart in Hinesville, Georgia.

Rodriguez was a cavalry scout who did reconnaissance work, Larson said.

He joined the Army in November 2005 and arrived at Fort Steward in July 2006. He shipped out to Iraq in January. Larson could not say if this was his first tour of duty.

From the Ventura County Star