Minn. soldier wounded in Iraq attack IDed

The fourth Minnesota soldier who was wounded in last week's attack that killed three other Minnesota National Guardsmen has identified himself.

Spc. Jacob Benson, 22, of Willmar is recovering from injuries suffered in last Thursday's insurgent attack near Basra in southern Iraq.

Benson tells the West Central Tribune that pieces of shrapnel were found in his arm and back after the attack. He also suffered bruises from being thrown by the explosion.

Benson's friends - Spc. James Wertish, 20, of rural Olivia, Spc. Carlos Wilcox IV, 27, of Cottage Grove, and Spc. Daniel Drevnick, 22, of Woodbury - were all killed in the attack.

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Drevnick's funeral is scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday at King of Kings Lutheran Church in Woodbury, with burial at Fort Snelling National Cemetery.

Funeral services for Wertish will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Bird Island.

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