 KTVB -- BOISE – Another Idaho soldier has been killed in battle this week.
The Department of Defense announced today the deaths of Sgt. Michael T. Lilly, 23, of Boise, and Spc. Jason C. Kazarick, 30, of Oakmont, Penn.
They were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom and died April 7 in Sadr City, Iraq, when enemy forces attacked using a rocket propelled grenade. They were assigned to the 1st Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, Vilseck, Germany.
A day earlier, Army reservist Maj. Stuart A. Wolfer was fatally wounded in Baghdad during an insurgent attack.
Wolfer, a 36-year-old father of three, was assigned to the 11th Battalion, 104th Division when his unit came under mortar attack. Another soldier, Col. Stephen K. Scott, who was assigned to the 356th Quartermaster Battalion in Laurel, Miss. also died in the attack.
Sgt. Lilly was raised in Boise, and graduated from Borah High School. He is the third Borah grad to die in the war in Iraq. The other two are Brandon Titus and Rick Ulbright.
His family says after high school, he joined the Army out of patriotism, and was motivated to enlist as a result of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the U.S.
Sgt. Lilly leaves behind his wife who is from the Boise area, his mother and father who reside in the Boise area, two brothers and a sister.
“We are very proud of Michael, and we will miss him forever. We all loved him very much. Michael knew he had an important job to do, and he did it. He knew what he was doing was important, and there was never any question in his mind that serving in the Army was what he needed to do. His whole life, he wanted to serve our country. He was a good son, a loving husband, a good friend and a patriotic person…that’s why he joined the Army,” said Lilly's mom in a statement.
“Michael loved Idaho, loved the United States and loved the Army. He was on his second enlistment and he told me he was going to re-enlist a third time. He felt so strongly about his career in the Army that he was willing to put that above everything else. With Michael, it was Army and Country first,” said Lilly's dad in a statement.
The Idaho National Guard is providing casualty assistance services to the family. The family has asked the media to respect its privacy during this time of grieving. |
I would just like to say thank you to you and the other soldier from your unit(1/2nd Cav) who was also killed in that attack for your service and sacrifice for our Country. And to your family and loved ones, I wish to extend my deepest sympathy.
"Tojours Pret"(Always Ready)
2nd Cav Motto