January 6, 2009<\/p>\n
Schofield soldier, 20, killed in Iraq<\/p>\n
Pfc. Christopher Lotter of Pennsylvania joined Army just a year ago<\/p>\n
By William Cole
\nAdvertiser Military Writer<\/p>\n
A 20-year-old Schofield Barracks soldier who joined the Army just a year ago has been killed in Iraq, the Pentagon said yesterday.<\/p>\n
Pfc. Christopher W. Lotter, of Chester Heights, Pa., died New Year’s Eve in Balad from wounds suffered when he was shot by enemy forces in Tikrit, the Army said.<\/p>\n
He was the first fatality for the more than 3,500 soldiers of the 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, which deployed to northern Iraq in October and November, Schofield officials said.<\/p>\n
A release put out by Multinational Force-Iraq, a U.S. command in the country, previously said a U.S. soldier died Dec. 31 from injuries sustained during combat operations on Dec. 30.<\/p>\n
Lotter was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 7th Field Artillery Regiment of the 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division.<\/p>\n
He joined the Army in January 2008 and was assigned to Schofield Barracks in June, officials said. Lotter was single and has no family in Hawai’i, according to the Army.<\/p>\n
A family member contacted by phone in Pennsylvania yesterday declined to comment.<\/p>\n
A neighbor in the townhouse community where the Lotters live said Christopher was very fit, and before he left, he could frequently be seen washing and cleaning a small green pickup truck.<\/p>\n
Although violence is down in Iraq, Hawai’i has continued to experience some troop losses – particularly with the large number of Schofield soldiers in Iraq.<\/p>\n
The total includes about 1,000 with the 25th Infantry Division headquarters; 3,500 with the 3rd Brigade; 4,300 with the Stryker Brigade; 700 with the 84th Engineer Battalion; and 375 with the 65th Engineer Battalion.<\/p>\n
The 3rd Brigade, which covered Kirkuk province on a previous deployment, is responsible this deployment for Kirkuk and Salah ad Din provinces.<\/p>\n
Recent deaths have included that of Sgt. Solomon T. Sam, 26, of Majuro, Marshall Islands, who was killed Dec. 4 when a suicide bomber detonated a car with explosives near a checkpoint in the northern city of Mosul, officials said.<\/p>\n
Sam was with the 84th Engineer Battalion.<\/p>\n
Pfc. Christopher A. McCraw, 23, of Mississippi, was killed in Baghdad on Oct. 14 when a gunshot hit him in the abdomen under his body armor. McCraw was with the 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry, out of Schofield.<\/p>\n
A Hawai’i-based Marine, Lance Cpl. Thomas Reilly Jr., 19, was killed Dec. 21 in a surprise attack while supporting combat operations in Anbar province in western Iraq. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines, at Kane’ohe Bay.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
January 6, 2009 Schofield soldier, 20, killed in Iraq Pfc. Christopher Lotter of Pennsylvania joined Army just a year ago By William Cole Advertiser Military Writer A 20-year-old Schofield Barracks soldier who joined the Army just a year ago has been killed in Iraq, the Pentagon said yesterday. Pfc. Christopher W. Lotter, of Chester Heights, … <\/p>\n