Anchorage Daily News -- An Alaska-based soldier who was found dead this week at his base in Iraq has been identified as Spc. Aaron P. Latimer, 26.

Very few details about the soldier's death have been released. Military officials say Latimer, of Ennis, Texas, was found dead Tuesday at his forward operating base in Mosul around 5:30 a.m. Alaska time.

 His death was not combat related and is under investigation, according to U.S. Army Alaska spokesman Maj. Kirk Gohlke.

Latimer, a human resources specialist, joined the Army in May 2003 and was assigned to the 562nd Engineer Company, part of the Alaska-based 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team. He was stationed at Fort Wainwright outside Fairbanks.

The death is the 14th for the Stryker brigade since the 3,800-person unit arrived in Iraq in early September. It is the unit's fourth non-combat death.

Latimer's family has been notified, officials said.

==Another news story==

Ennis Daily News -- Fallen soldier to receive recognition in Alaska

Fortunately few community members know the heartache of losing a loved one while they were serving in the military. For those who do, the sadness they feel at their loss is tempered by the pride they feel for their loved one’s service.

While nothing is ever able to make up for that loss, special moments like the acceptance of honors on behalf of their fallen soldier is a comfort. For Richard and Betty Latimer, one of those moments has come, but they are not in a position to accept the honor without the help of the community.

The Latimers’ son, Army Specialist Aaron Latimer, was stationed in Alaska before being sent to Iraq where he died in May 2006. His death and sacrifice for his country is to be honored by the Alaskan government on May 23, with an award that is similar to the Purple Heart. Latimer’s parents have been asked to accept the award that honors their son, but do not have the estimated $2,000 needed to make the trip. Betty Latimer said attending the award ceremony is very important to both her husband and herself.

“Every year since Aaron’s death we have received an invitation from the Alaskan government to come take part in a ceremony recognizing all of the fallen soldiers from Alaska,” she explained. “However, since a House Bill passed in their government in 2007 that honors fallen soldiers, Aaron will be honored and receive a medal that is the equivalent to a Purple Heart. It is a great honor and his father and I would love to be able to attend.”

Betty said that getting this letter and actually wanting to accept the award would be something her son thought was amusing since she always told him she couldn’t visit Alaska because it was too cold.

“I always used to tease Aaron that I couldn’t come visit him in Alaska because it was too darned cold,” she said. “Now that he is being honored there I knew he’d think it was funny. When I got the letter in the mail I took it to the cemetery and read it to him. I know he’s gone, but I still wanted to read it to him.”

Making matters even more difficult for the family to be able to afford the trip is the recent layoff of Richard Latimer. Due to the downturn in the economy, he recently lost his job and has joined the ranks of millions of other Americans across the country looking for a job.

Betty said she is hoping that the generosity and kindness that was shown to her family during Aaron’s death is once again shown in the family’s efforts to attend the ceremony where he will be recognized.

“Our family has been blessed by the outpouring of love and sympathy from the community during Aaron’s death and we are hoping that anyone that can will help us make this trip a reality,” she said. “I know if Aaron was here he would be very honored and I can just see the big smile that would be on his face.”

Mark Forney, a co-worker of Betty’s, is helping to raise funds for the couple and said he hopes the community helps honor Aaron by contributing to the couple’s traveling expenses.

“I feel like if the community can help get the Latimer’s to Alaska that we all will gain just a bit of honor in doing so.”

To help contribute to the Latimer’s traveling fund, an account has been opened at Ennis State Bank in the name of Richard and Betty Latimer. Any donations would be greatly appreciated by the family. For more information or to become involved in fund-raising efforts, contact Forney at 214-864-2215.