Indiana Soldier Killed In Iraq

A U.S. soldier from Evansville died of wounds suffered from enemy small arms fire in Iraq, the Department of Defense said Friday.

Pfc. Willard M. Kerchief III, 21, died Thursday in Balad, Iraq, of wounds he suffered in Taramiyah, Iraq, the Defense Department said.

Kerchief graduated in 2005 from Evansville's Reitz High School after attending Bosse High School for three years and had been deployed to Iraq in April, his family said.

Kerchief was assigned to the 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division at Fort Lewis, Wash.

Kerchief is the 90th member of the military from Indiana to die since February 2003 after being sent to the Mideast for the war in Iraq.