Army Spc. Kamisha J. Block

Died August 16, 2007 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

---

20, of Vidor, Texas; assigned to the 401st Military Police Company, 720th Military Police Battalion, 89th Military Police Brigade, Fort Hood, Texas; died Aug. 16 in Baghdad of injuries sustained from a non-combat-related incident. Also killed was Staff Sgt. Paul B. Norris.

---

Southeast Texas soldier killed in Iraq

The Associated Press

VIDOR, Texas — A Southeast Texas soldier has died in Iraq, the Department of Defense announced Aug. 21.

Spc. Kamisha Jane Block, 20, died Aug. 16 in what military officials called “a non-combat-related incident.” But her family told the Beaumont Enterprise that she died in a friendly fire incident.

“She was shot in the chest by friendly fire,” Block’s aunt, Kathy Byerley, told the newspaper. “They haven’t told us anything else — the rest is under investigation. We just want to know the truth about it.”

When asked whether Block had died in a friendly fire incident, Paul Prince, a spokesman for the U.S. Army III Corps and Fort Hood, would only say there was an ongoing investigation into her death.

Block, a Vidor native, joined the military in July 2005 as a military police officer and was assigned to the 401st Military Police Company, 720th Military Police Battalion, 89th Military Police Brigade, since January 2007. She was deployed to Iraq in May.

Block’s military awards and decorations included the National Defense Service Medal, Korea Defense Service Medal Global War on Terrorism (Service) Medal and the Army Service Ribbon.

Block was described by family members an outgoing person who always wanted to help.

“She loved people,” said Block’s uncle, John Stuckey. “She was out to help people with whatever she could.”

Block had plans to pursue a career in law enforcement, her relatives said.