A soldier based at Fort Carson and serving his third tour of the Middle East died Wednesday after being injured by an explosive device that detonated near his unit during combat in Baghdad, the Pentagon announced Saturday.
The Pentagon identified the soldier as Sgt. 1st Class Lawrence David Ezell of Portland, Texas. The 30-year-old Ezell was assigned to the 71st Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group at Fort Carson.
Ezell joined the Army on Jan. 11, 1997, according to the Pentagon. His first deployment to Iraq was from March 16, 2003, to Oct. 25, 2003. He also was deployed to Afghanistan from Oct. 11, 2005, through April 4, 2006.
His second tour of Iraq began Nov. 1. His awards included the Bronze Star and Army Commendation Medal.
On Friday, officials had announced the death of a Colorado solider, Spec. Ronald J. Tucker of Fountain.
Tucker died Wednesday in Iraq when a roadside bomb exploded near his vehicle, according to the Department of Defense.
Tucker, 21, and 32-year-old Army Capt. Andrew R. Pearson of Billings, Mont., who also died in the blast, were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division from Fort Hood, Texas.
Tucker was a 2005 graduate of Fountain-Fort Carson High School and joined the Army in 2005.
He was assigned to Fort Hood in August 2006 and went to the Middle East earlier this year.
According to an Associated Press count, the U.S. troop death toll in Iraq for April was 52. That makes April the deadliest month since September, when 65 U.S. soldiers died in Iraq.
