Army Sgt. Robert T. Rapp

Died March 3, 2008 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom

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22, of Sonora, Calif.; assigned to the 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.; killed March 3 in the Sabari District of Afghanistan of wounds sustained during combat operations. Also killed was Cpl. Steven R. Koch.

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2 N.C.-based soldiers killed in Afghanistan

The Associated Press

TRENTON, N.J. — Two soldiers based in North Carolina were killed when an improvised explosive device detonated outside a government building in the Sabari District of eastern Afghanistan, the Defense Department said March 5.

Spc. Steven R. Koch, 23, of Milltown, was one of two U.S. soldiers killed by the blast March 3. The second soldier was identified as Sgt. Robert T. Rapp, 22, of Sonora, Calif.

Both were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, based at Fort Bragg, N.C.

Koch is survived by his wife, Amy, and a daughter, Zoe, both of Spotswood; his parents, Christine and William Koch of Milltown; and a brother, William Koch, also of Milltown.

“My husband and I are very proud of our son,” his mother told The Star-Ledger of Newark on Wednesday night. “He died for his country and he died loving his country.”

His mother said Koch had nearly completed his 15-month tour of duty and was due home next month.

Koch joined the Army in March 2006 and took airborne training at Fort Benning, Ga.

The 82nd said March 6 that Rapp is survived by his parents, Theodore C. and Jennifer P. Rapp, and his brother, Patrick M. Rapp, all of Sonora, Calif.

Rapp joined the Army in June 2004 and was assigned to the airborne division in December 2004.