The U.S. Department of Defense confirmed Tuesday that Sgt. Jason A. Schumann, a 23-year-old soldier from Hawley, Minn., was killed Saturday in Iraq.
The delay in the reporting of his death was due to the sensitive nature of his mission and the manner of his death, according to Schumann's older brother, James Schumann, who lives in Fargo.
Jason Schumann was the commander of a scout vehicle on a reconnaissance mission near the town of Ad Diwaniyah when his vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device, according to information provided by his brother and the Department of Defense.
Ad Diwaniyah, a city of more than 400,000, is about 60 miles south of Baghdad.
The vehicle's driver and gunner escaped with minor injuries, but soldiers were unable to remove Schumann's body from the vehicle before it was engulfed in flames, his brother said.
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DNA testing was done to confirm the identity of the remains, James Schumann said, adding his brother's funeral will be next week in Hawley.
A full military funeral and burial will be at Fort Snelling, Minn., James Schumann said.
"I would like to say the community response to Jason's death has been outstanding," James Schumann said.
"Jason lived his life with honor and dignity and we will deeply miss him," Schumann said of his brother. "He absolutely loved his job and he would be proud to know the men under his command escaped without severe injury."
Jason Schumann is survived by his wife, Laura Schumann, and his 1-year-old son, Joe Tyler, both of whom live in Wolverhampton, England.
A complete list of survivors was not available Tuesday, but it also includes his mother, Candie Glisson, Fargo, and his father, Jim Schumann, Hawley.
A younger brother, Benjamin, lives in Devils Lake, N.D.
Jason Schumann, a 2002 graduate of Hawley High School, was assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 89th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, out of Fort Polk, La.
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He joined the military while in high school, shortly before Sept. 11, 2001, and he was serving his second deployment in Iraq, James Schumann said.
Wright Funeral Home, Vigen Chapel, Hawley, is in charge of arrangements.
Readers can reach Forum reporter Dave Olson at (701) 241-5555
