The Modesto Bee -- MERCED -- The county recorded its fifth death from the war in Iraq as the Army reported that Pvt. Janelle F. King, 23, of Merced, died Aug. 14 in Baghdad "from a noncombat-related cause."

King was a health care specialist with the 115th Combat Support Hospital from Fort Polk, La. In previous Iraq deployments, the military hospital helped treat Iraqi detainees as well as U.S. troops.

In a news release, the Army said that "circumstances surrounding the soldier's death are under investigation." Since the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, 4,143 U.S. troops have died there.

Jamecia Jackson, 45, King's mother, declined to comment on her daughter's death beyond saying, "We're really close-knit as a family and we haven't decided what to do yet."

Jackson said she spent 10 years in the Air Force and that King's father, from whom she is divorced, is in the Air Force.

King did not attend schools in the Merced area.

The Army said King had arrived at Fort Polk in January after joining the service in May 2007.

Rep. Dennis Cardoza, D-Merced, called it "a shame that we've lost another of American's finest. We need to honor those who have served, and I think we need to bring an end to the conflict as soon as we possibly can."

"My heart goes out to the family," Merced Mayor Ellie Wooten said. "We worry about the little things, and they're putting their lives on the line." She added that though it's an election year, she doesn't hear many people talking about the war in Iraq.

"I think things like this deepen the wound and make it harder to talk about," Wooten said. "All we can do is pray this is over soon."

The city of Merced will fly the flags at municipal buildings at half-staff in honor of King and will remain so until after services have been held for her. Capitol flags also will be flown at half-staff in King's honor.

Gov. Schwarzenegger released a statement: "Our nation has suffered a great loss with the death of Pvt. Janelle King. She served bravely to protect the safety of her fellow citizens and Californians will never forget her sacrifice. Maria and I send our heartfelt sympathy to Janelle's family and friends as they mourn this tremendous loss."

Air Force veteran Ed Mentz, 70, who served from 1956 to 1976, said the death will hit those in the military community harder than average residents.

"There's a camaraderie among veterans. A bond forms," he said. "It affects them harder. Unless you have been in that situation you can't understand. It's like losing a part of yourself, but it's unexplainable really."

Mentz is president of the San Joaquin chapter of the National Association of Uniformed Services and is a commander with the local chapter of the Disabled American Veterans.

Merced County's first fatality in Iraq was Army Pfc. Karina Lau of Livingston, who was killed Nov. 2, 2003. Army Cpl. Cesar Granados of Le Grand was killed Sept. 15, 2006. Marine Cpl. Josh Pickard was killed Dec. 19, 2006. Army Staff Sgt. Frank Gasper was killed May 25.