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(AP) - A National Guardsman from Willmar died in
Iraq after a roadside bomb exploded near his convoy, his mother
said Friday.

      The family of Kyle Miller, 19, was notified of his death Friday
morning. He had been in Iraq since March.

      Miller, a member of the 682nd Engineer Battalion, is the 40th
person with Minnesota ties to have died in connection with the war
in Iraq and Afghanistan.

      Kathy Miller of Bird Island said military officials told the
family that her son was in the first vehicle of a seven-vehicle
convoy when the bomb exploded, and died on the way to the hospital.

      "He was behind the driver," she said. "My son was doing
communications so I thought he'd be safe."

      Funeral arrangements are pending with Harvey Anderson Funeral
Home in Willmar. Kathy Miller said it may be a week before her
son's body is returned to Willmar.

      "It's hard to believe he's gone. It's been a hard day," she
said.

      Kyle Miller lived in Bird Island from the age of 3 to 15, when
he moved in with his father, Randy Miller, in Willmar. Randy Miller
declined to comment on his son's death.

      Kathy Miller said her son's good sense of humor and artistic
abilities always made her smile.

      Willmar Mayor Les Heitke directed that flags be lowered to
half-staff in the city Friday.

      The Department of Defense and Minnesota National Guard must wait
24 hours after the last family member is notified before a death
can be confirmed, said 1st Lt. Sheree Savage of the Minnesota Air
National Guard. A press release then will be issued by the National
Guard, Savage said.

      Kyle Miller graduated from the Willmar Area Learning Center in
2005 and completed his basic infantry training at Fort Benning,
Columbus, Ga.

      He was among the 2,600 Minnesotans deployed in March in the
largest overseas deployment of the Minnesota National Guard since
World War II.

Gallery

A National Guardsman from Willmar died in
Iraq on Friday when an explosive device detonated near his convoy.


Willmar Guardsman killed in Iraq

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