Everett soldier had earned medals

An Everett soldier who was killed Monday in Iraq had seen previous combat.

The Army said Friday that Sgt. Phillip Reid Anderson, 28, had won a Purple Heart and a number of other decorations associated with the war there.

He and two others assigned to the U.S. Army base at Fort Hood, Texas, died Monday in Balad Ruz, Iraq, when their vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb. Anderson was an armor crew member.

An Army spokesman at Fort Hood said there was little information immediately available about Anderson’s family or where they live.

Anderson joined the Army in October 1999. He has been assigned to the 2nd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment since August 2006. He and his companions were deployed to Iraq in November.

Besides the Purple Heart, Anderson’s decorations included the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Service Unit Award, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Combat Action Badge and Driver-Mechanic Badge.

Others killed in the attack included Capt. Torre Ramoine Mallard, 27, of Oklahoma, an armor officer; and Spc. Donald Allen Burkett, 24, of Comanche, Texas, an armor crew member.

Anderson is the 16th service member with connections to Snohomish or Island counties to die in the Iraq conflict. So far, nearly 4,000 U.S. troops have perished in the war, which began in March 2003.

The 2nd Squadron, known as Sabre Squadron, originated in 1846 as a regiment of mounted riflemen designed to provide greater mobility than the regular infantry, according to the Army.

In modern times, the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment is equipped with M1 Abrams tanks and M3 Bradley fighting vehicles. It is the only heavy armored cavalry regiment in the Army. Two other regiments are both considered light armored cavalry regiments.

Reporter Jim Haley: 425-339-3447 or jhaley@heraldnet.com.