ST. PAUL - A 24-year-old Minnesota National Guard soldier was killed by an improvised explosive device while on foot patrol in Fallujah, Iraq, the National Guard said Wednesday.
Sgt. James M. Wosika Jr. of St. Paul was on patrol with members of the Crookston-based Company B, 2nd Battalion, 136th Infantry when he was hit about 3 p.m. local time Tuesday. No other Minnesota National Guard soldiers were hurt.
"The loss of Sgt. Wosika is a tragedy," said Maj. Gen. Larry Shellito, the Minnesota Guard Adjutant General, in a prepared statement. "He was proudly serving his state and nation in a combat zone when he was taken from us."
