 Bend Weekly -- 20-year-old U.S. Army Specialist Zachary McBride, a 2005 graduate of Mountain View High School, was reportedly killed Wednesday in Diyana Province north of Baghdad, Iraq.
McBride, from Bend, Oregon, was one of six men who died January 9 when a bomb exploded as the soldiers conducted a house-to-house mission, the Oregon National Guard (ONG) reported. Four others were wounded in the attack and evacuated to a coalition forces hospital.
Specialist McBride was born in New York, New York, and joined the army in June 2005 immediately after graduating from high school. According to a statement relayed by the family to ONG, Zachary wanted to do something meaningful and to gain life experience. He enjoyed the Infantry’s hands-on approach versus the purely analytical, and enjoyed target shooting, reading, socializing with friends and missions for his church, they said.
McBride is survived by his father, Marshall, a Pastor of Music & Worship at Eastmont Church; his mother, Laura; and sister, Sarah; all of Bend.
This was the first incident involving multiple deaths of U.S Soldier in Iraq since September 10, when seven Multi-National Division-Baghdad soldiers died and 11 were injured in a vehicle accident in western Baghdad. |
I would just like to say thank you to you and the other five soldiers who were also killed in that blast 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