Army Staff Sgt. Robert J. Basham

Died April 14, 2007 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

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22, of Kenosha, Wis.; assigned to the Headquarters and Headquarters Battery 1st Battalion, 126th Field Artillery Regiment, Kenosha, Wis.; died April 14 at Camp As Sayliyah in Doha, Qatar, as a result of injuries from a non-combat incident. His death is under investigation.

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Kenosha soldier dies from injuries in non-combat incident

The Associated Press

KENOSHA, Wis. — A 22-year-old soldier from Kenosha died in a non-combat incident in Qatar, military officials said April 18.

Staff Sgt. Robert Basham died April 14 at Camp As Sayliyah in Doha, Qatar, from injuries suffered in the incident that remained under investigation, said Lt. Col. Tim Donovan, a spokesman for the Wisconsin National Guard in Madison.

The base provides rest and relaxation to soldiers who have served in Iraq, Donovan said. No other details of the incident were released. Qatar is a tiny emirate that juts 100 miles into the Persian Gulf from Saudi Arabia.

Basham was a member of the Guard’s Headquarters Battery, 1st Battalion, 126th Field Artillery, and was mobilized in 2005 for a year of duty in Iraq, Donovan said.

Last November, he volunteered for another tour of duty and was assigned to a Kansas National Guard unit performing missions in Iraq, Donovan said. “He was a guy who really had a commitment to service. He was known for just a dedication to service.”

The Guard said Basham’s family did not want to comment and expected to issue a statement sometime April 19.

Maj. Gen. Albert H. Wilkening ordered flags at all Wisconsin National Guard armories, air bases and other facilities lowered to half-staff to honor Basham.

Basham was the 71st soldier or Marine from Wisconsin killed in Iraq or associated with duties in Iraq since the U.S. invasion in March 2003. As of Tuesday, at least 3,309 members of the U.S. military have died in the fighting, according to an Associated Press count.

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Kenosha soldier remembered at funeral

The Associated Press

KENOSHA, Wis. — The family of a 22-year-old soldier from Kenosha who died earlier this month received medals in his honor at his funeral April 26.

Staff Sgt. Robert Basham died April 14 in a non-combat incident in Qatar.

The incident, which occurred at Camp As Sayliyah in Doha, Qatar, remains under investigation.

Basham was a member of the Guard’s Headquarters Battery, 1st Battalion, 126th Field Artillery, and was mobilized in 2005 for a year of duty in Iraq.

He returned home and volunteered for another tour of duty. He was assigned to a Kansas National Guard unit performing missions in Iraq. Family members say he was due to return home next month.

On April 26, cars filled the parking lot at Proko Funeral Home and lined the street. Basham’s family was presented with many medals in his honor, including the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the Bronze Star Medal, among many others.

He was buried at the Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Union Grove.

Basham was the 71st soldier or Marine from Wisconsin killed in Iraq or associated with duties in Iraq since the U.S. invasion in March 2003.