Bomb kills Cedar City soldier; 2 are hurt

A Utah National Guard soldier from Cedar City was killed and two others wounded in Kirkuk, Iraq, Saturday after their Humvee was struck by a roadside bomb.

Staff Sgt. Ronald Wood, Bravo Battery, 1-148th Field Artillery Battalion, based in Logan, died Saturday. He became the 13th Utahn killed in Iraq since the start of the war in March 2003.

Sgt. Christopher Olsen, of Logan, and Spc. Eric Lund, of Providence, were treated for shrapnel wounds from the incident.

Wood enlisted in the Utah National Guard in 1994 with the 2-222nd Field Artillery. He transferred to the 1-148th in 2003. He was a full-time employee of the Guard when his unit was mobilized in June 2004.

"I offer my most heartfelt condolences to Staff Sgt. Wood's family," said Maj. Gen. Brian Tarbet in a release. "This is a great loss for them and for the Utah National Guard. We're mindful of the great cost that some families must bear in this war and we pledge to them our full and complete support to assist them in whatever way we can."

Wood's family has been notified but did not want to make any public comment, said Utah National Guard spokesman Maj. Hank McIntire. Both Lund and Olsen have spoken to their families.

Lund received shrapnel wounds to the back of his head, his back and legs. His leg was broken in three places, McIntire said.

According to Lund's wife he underwent surgery and will be transported to a medical facility in Germany for further medical treatment.

Olsen sustained cuts and bruises, and received shrapnel wounds in his left leg. He also underwent surgery to remove the shrapnel and is doing well, McIntire said.

Utah Gov. Jon M. Huntsman Jr. offered personal condolences to the soldier's family. "Mary Kaye and I send our deepest sympathies. We greatly appreciate the sacrifice that Staff Sgt. Wood has made to help Iraq realize freedom. He is truly a hero."

Other Utahns killed in Iraq since the start of the war are:

• Staff Sgt. James W. Cawley, 41, Layton, killed March 29, 2003, in a firefight near Nasiriyah.

• Staff Sgt. Nino D. Livaudais, 23, Syracuse, killed April 3, 2003, in a suicide bombing near Haditha Dam.

• Capt. Nathan S. Dalley, 27, killed Nov. 17, 2003, in Baghdad by nonhostile gunfire.

• Sgt. David J. Goldberg, 20, Layton, killed Nov. 26, 2003, by gunshot near Qayyarah.