Army Sgt. 1st Class Virgil R. Case

Died June 1, 2005 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

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37, of Mountain Home, Idaho; assigned to the 145th Support Battalion, 116th Brigade Combat Team, Idaho Army National Guard, Mountain Home, Idaho; died June 1 of non-combat-related injuries in Kirkuk, Iraq.

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Idaho soldier dies in Iraq

Associated Press

MOUNTAIN HOME, Idaho — A soldier from Mountain Home has died in Kirkuk, Iraq, of non-combat related injuries, the Department of Defense announced Thursday.

Army National Guard Sgt. 1st Class Virgil R. Case, 37, died Wednesday morning, defense officials said, but the military would not release his cause of death. The matter is under investigation, said National Guard spokesman Lt. Col. Tim Marsano.

Before he was deployed to Iraq last year, Case worked full time at the Mountain Home armory. He was assigned to the Guard’s 145th Support Battalion, 116th Brigade Combat Team.

Case is survived by his wife, Claudia Case, and four children.

The family has requested privacy from the media, Marsano said, but they released a prepared statement through the Army National Guard, saying Virgil Case was proud to serve in the military.

“He was a loving father and husband who lived for his family,” the family said. “There are no words that can express how much he will be missed. He will never be forgotten.”

Maj. Gen. Larry Lafrenz, Idaho adjutant general, said Case would be remembered for valiant and dedicated service.

“Sergeant Case was a true professional who lost his life while defending the rights and freedoms that have been the hallmark of our country for over 229 years,” Lafrenz said. “All Idaho National Guard soldiers and airmen grieve his loss and extend to his family our heartfelt prayers and condolences.”