Another non-combat death in Iraq

01/04/08 DoD Identifies Army Casualty
Staff Sgt. Ryan D. Maseth, 24, of Pittsburgh, Pa., died in Baghdad, Iraq, on Jan. 2 of injuries suffered in a non-combat related incident. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Campbell, Ky.

Ryan D. Maseth


Editor & Publisher -- The father of a local soldier has questions after learning of his son's death in Iraq and is anxious to bring his other son home. Staff Sgt. Ryan D. Maseth, 24, from Shaler, (Pittsburgh, PA) died in Baghdad on Jan. 2. Doug Maseth was told his son was electrocuted in the shower but there are no other details. Maseth says he's devastated.

"I could have put this to rest a lot better if he would have been shot or he would have got killed by an IED," he said. "I'd have said, 'OK. That's what happened.' How can you justify getting electrocuted in a shower?" While he waits for answers, he's making arrangements for Ryan's twin brother, Brandon, to come home at least temporarily. "I don't want to lose another boy," Maseth said. "Who wants to lose one? I don't [want to have] the chance of losing two." Right now, the loss of Ryan is all he can bear. "I'm heartbroken," he said. "I watched him from when he was born all the way up 'till now and I just ... turned into a good young man - taken away so fast."