NC Times -- The body of a U.S. soldier killed in Iraq last week was identified Tuesday as Spc. Mike T. Sonoda Jr., 34, of Fallbrook.

Sonoda died Thursday of injuries he suffered when an improvised explosive device went off near his armored carrier the previous day, according to information released Tuesday by the United States Department of Defense. The guardsman died while participating in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Sonoda had been assigned to the Army National Guard's 1st Battalion, 184th Infantry Regiment in Fullerton.

Attempts to reach Sonoda's family and friends Tuesday for comment on the guardsman's life were unsuccessful.