Posted on 05/22/2004 4:15:39 PM PDT by Flora McDonald
An Army truck driver from Virginia was killed in Baghdad when her military vehicle hit an explosive device, the Department of Defense said Friday.
Army Pfc. Leslie D. Jackson, 18, was assigned to A Company, 115th Forward Support Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division, based in Fort Hood, Texas. She died Thursday.
Jackson was a battalion commander in the JROTC program at George Wythe High School, school officials said. She was graduated in 2003 and entered the Army in August.
Earl M. Pappy, George Wythe's principal and a military veteran, told the Richmond Times-Dispatch that he and Jackson spoke frequently about her decision to enter the military. He said she thought the military would help her to move forward.
The two had been exchanging periodic e-mails, and Jackson wrote about what she was encountering in Iraq, Pappy said. He heard from her as recently as three weeks ago.
"The students are very upset because she was respected very, very much," he said.
Information on Jackson's survivors was unavailable Friday night.
Margaret Brewster, a spokeswoman from Fort Hood, said she had been there since December.
The RTD website is experiencing difficulties but will post more news as it becomes available.
Another young soldier going home.
Rest In Peace Army Pfc. Leslie D. Jackson
God Bless Leslie and her loved ones.
Amen
I was the direct support maintenance technician (CW3 915E) for the 115 FSB until 2000, when I retired...knew many, many folks in Alpha company...
"He said she thought the military would help her to move forward."
And she has. She will always be remembered among America's heroes and patriots.
Thank you for your service and dedication to our Country. God bless you.
Thanks for posting this.
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