The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

 

            Sgt. Derek R. Banks, 24, of Newport News, Va., died Nov. 14 in San Antonio of wounds suffered Oct. 25 in Baghdad, Iraq, when the vehicle he was in struck an improvised explosive device.  He was assigned to the 237^th Engineer Company, 276^th Engineer Battalion, 91^st Troop Command, Virginia National Guard, West Point, Va.

 

            For more information media may contact the Virginia National Guard public affairs office at (804) 225-3704 or (434) 294-1477.  Information may also be found at http://vko.va.ngb.army.mil/virginiaguard .