Army Sgt. Brett D. Swank

Died January 24, 2005 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

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21, of Northumberland, Pa.; assigned to the 1st Battalion, 509th Infantry Regiment, Fort Polk, La.; killed Jan. 24 when an improvised explosive device detonated near his position in Baghdad.

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Soldier from Northumberland killed in Iraq

Associated Press

NORTHUMBERLAND, Pa. — A soldier from central Pennsylvania was killed by an improvised explosive device while on a foot patrol in western Baghdad on Monday, his father said.

Sgt. Brett Swank, 21, of Northumberland, was stationed at Fort Polk, La., and went to Iraq in July. A graduate of Shikellamy High School, Swank was accepted to Colorado State University but deferred going because he wanted to complete his four years in the Army, Daniel J. Swank said.

An Army Ranger, he was nearing the end of his four years of service and hoped to join ROTC at Colorado State and leave the program as a lieutenant.

“He was a great role model for his younger brother. He was very upbeat and very positive,” said Daniel Swank, 46, who communicated with his son several times a week over the Internet. “He was always positive. The guys with him were always positive.”

Sgt. Swank was most recently home for 15 days over Thanksgiving.

“He wasn’t so much my son — he was more or less my best friend for those 15 days,” Daniel Swank said.

While home on leave, Sgt. Swank also visited an elementary school where his stepmother is a third-grade teacher. The students were sending cards and letters to Swank and members of his unit.

“The children very much enjoyed his visit,” teacher Judy Duke said. “He was very good with them.”