Matthew T. Bolar

Saturday, May 05 2007 @ 06:38 AM EDT

Montgomery Advertiser -- A Montgomery soldier who volunteered for a second tour of duty in Iraq died Thursday when an improvised explosive device detonated near his unit.

Army Spc. Matthew T. Bolar, 24, was serving with the 1st Battalion of the 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division based at Fort Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska.

According to a Department of Defense news release, Bolar is the son of Anne and Vernon Adkins of Montgomery and Gordon and Elly Bolar of Kalamazoo, Mich. In addition to his parents, Bolar is survived by his sister, Emma, 19, who graduated from St. James School in Montgomery and now attends the University of Alabama.

Bolar graduated as valedictorian of Canterbury High School in 2002.

The Adkins family declined to be interviewed, but family friend Bob Thurber spoke on their behalf. Thurber, who works with Anne Adkins at Raycom Media, has known the family for about 10 years. He spoke with Bolar when he was home between his tours of duty.

"He told me he was going house-to-house in search of insurgents," Thurber said. "I think he knew what the dangers were."

The family was notified of Bolar's death about 9:30 p.m. Thursday by casualty assistance officers and a chaplain.

"A lot of people are suffering these days because of what is going on over there," Thurber said. "Annie lived in fear that this day would come."

Funeral arrangements are pending the return of Bolar's body to the United States.

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