Platoon leader remembers 3 fallen Minnesota soldiers

Platoon leader remembers 3 fallen Minnesota soldiers
By Renee Tessman

The Minnesota National Guard offered its condolences Saturday after one of the deadliest days for Minnesota troops in Iraq since 2005.

Three soldiers were killed Thursday evening in an attack on a base in Basra. They are 27-year-old Specialist Carlos Wilcox IV of Cottage Grove, 20-year-old Specialist James Wertish of Olivia and 22-year-old Specialist Daniel Drevnick of Woodbury. All were members of the Minnesota National Guard 34th Red Bull Infantry Division based in Stillwater.

At a press conference at the Stillwater Armory Saturday, Lt. Col. Michael Wickman says, "On behalf of all the men and women in the MN National Guard, I express my deepest sympathy."

National Guard officials say it was an indirect fire attack that killed the three soldiers. That could mean a mortar or missile attack. But Wickman says that's still unclear stating, "Many of the details are still under investigation by U.S. military authorities in Iraq."

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Platoon leader remembers 3 fallen Minnesota soldiers