Sandy R. Britt dies 'of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his unit during combat operations'

A soldier from central Florida died from wounds sustained when a bomb detonated near his unit in Iraq, the Department of Defense said Thursday.

Staff Sgt. Sandy R. Britt, 30, of Apopka, Fla., died Tuesday near Baghdad. He was an infantry squad leader assigned to the 1st Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.

Britt was in the Navy before joining the Army in October 2003 and was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division two years later.

"His willingness to serve his country and lead great soldiers (are) just two examples of the type of soldier Britt was," said Staff Sgt. Larry Coburn, Britt's former team leader.

Britt's wife, Valorie, and son, Taylor, live in Raeford, N.C. He also is survived by his parents, Sarah Arnold and Terry Britt.

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