Indianapolis Firefighter Killed Serving In Iraq

INDIANAPOLIS -- An Indianapolis fire captain serving in Iraq was killed Monday in Baghdad, Indianapolis Fire Department officials confirmed early Tuesday.

National Guard Sgt. Gary Henry was among two Indiana soldiers killed when a roadside bomb exploded in a predominantly Shiite area of Baghdad, military officials said.

Indianapolis Fire Capt. Gregg Harris confirmed Henry's death early Tuesday. Harris said Henry was a 12-year veteran of IFD and served as special operations rescue coordinator.

All Indianapolis Fire Department flags were ordered flown at half-staff. Indianapolis fire Capt. Gregg Harris said Henry was a highly skilled firefighter, which also helped him become a valuable soldier.

"He became a paramedic … a diver, a dive instructor, hazardous materials special operations, so he was very much involved in protecting the citizens of Indianapolis," Harris said. "Some of the members of our department knew Gary before he came on and it's hit hard … We're going to come together we'll make it through this, but it's going to be difficult."

Henry leaves behind a wife and three children.

Spc. Jon Menke from Madison, Ind. was also killed in the attack, military official said. According to The Madison Courier, Menke was a 2005 graduate of Madison Consolidated High School. His father, Dan Menke, told the paper that he was notified Monday of his son’s death.

Spc. John Blickenstaff of Twelve Mile, Ind. was wounded in the attack.

Henry and Menke were the first American troops to be killed in Baghdad since July 8, when a roadside bomb killed Spc. William McMillan III, a 22-year-old Army medic from Lexington, Ky., and wounded five other soldiers in the western neighborhood of Amariyah, a Sunni area.