Jason M. Kessler dies 'of wounds suffered from a rocket-propelled grenade'

A 29-year-old Army Ranger from Fort Lewis was killed Monday in northern Iraq, the military said Thursday.

Cpl. Jason M. Kessler, a college graduate and veteran of two previous Iraq deployments, died after his tactical vehicle was struck by a rocket-propelled grenade, according to Department of Defense press releases.

He was assigned to C Company of the 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment from Fort Lewis. Officials at the U.S. Army Special Operations Command at Fort Bragg, N.C., said they could provide no further details about the incident.

Kessler was from Mount Vernon in Skagit County. He graduated from Mount Vernon Christian High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in biblical studies at The Master’s College in Santa Clarita, Calif., the Special Operations Command said in a press release. He was also studying philosophy at the University of Washington.

He enlisted in the Army in 2005 and completed infantry and airborne training and then the Ranger indoctrination program, all at Fort Benning, Ga. He was assigned to the Fort Lewis Ranger battalion in August of that year.

He is survived by his parents, C. Michael and Pamela Kessler, his brother Mark, his sister Katelyn, all of Mount Vernon, and his long-time girlfriend Erin Jacobson of Kirkland, the Army said.

Kessler is the fourth Fort Lewis Ranger to be killed in the Iraq war.

From the News Tribune