A U.S. Army soldier with ties to Everett died Thursday in Iraq, the Defense Department said.
Spc. Vincent. G. Kamka, 23, grew up in Idaho Falls, Idaho. He had been assigned to the 1st Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airbone Division. He was stationed at Fort Bragg, N.C.
The Army did not release details of how Kamka died. The Defense Department said the soldier’s death is under investigation.
Kamka was a 2003 graduate of Skyline High School in Idaho Falls. A military spokesman said Kamka moved to the Everett area in recent years. He listed his nearest relatives as his parents in Idaho.
Lt. Col. Tim Marsano of the Idaho National Guard said he’s been asked to represent the soldier’s family.
Marsano said one of Kamka’s brothers moved to the Everett area, and some other family members, including Vincent Kamka, followed him to Snohomish County.
“The family wishes no contact from the media at this time,” Marsano said.
However, the soldier’s family issued a statement:
“Vince believed in duty to God, country, and family. He served this country with dedication obvious to all now. Vince was a quiet, respectful and honorable son, beloved brother and uncle. We thank God for Vincent’s life and sacrifice. We honor all others who stand up next to him; this is the price of Freedom.”
The Post-Register newspaper in Idaho Falls said that the dead soldier has several family members who also served in the military. Kamka’s mother, Brenda Kamka, wrote a letter to the newspaper’s editor in 2006 describing his patriotism.
“My son currently chooses to serve in the U.S. Army because he is a patriot,” Brenda Kamka wrote. “Actually, his three brothers and father also chose to serve this country. Patriotism is a way of life, and many Americans still teach their children that freedom isn’t free.”
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