Seattle Post Intelligencer - A 19-year-old military policeman from Fort Lewis was killed in Iraq on Tuesday, the Defense Department announced Friday.

Pfc. Aaron J. Ward of San Jacinto, Calif., died in Anbar of wounds after his unit came under fire while conducting "cordon and search operations," the Pentagon said.

Ward was assigned to the 170th Military Police Company, 504th Military Police Battalion, 42nd Military Police Brigade from Fort Lewis. The company deployed to Iraq in May 2007.

Ward, who enlisted in the Army in April 2007, arrived at Fort Lewis in January and deployed to join the unit in recent months. He was promoted posthumously to private first class from his previous rank of private.

Ward is the 267th member of the armed forces from Washington's hometowns or military bases who has been killed in Iraq since the war began more than five years ago. Nationwide, more than 4,000 members of the U.S. military have died there.