The Associated Press
MIAMI — A Florida soldier was among four people killed in an explosion in Iraq, military officials said.
Sgt. Phillip D. McNeill, 22, of Sunrise, was killed Jan. 20 when an improvised explosive device detonated near his Humvee in Karmah, Iraq, the Department of Defense said Tuesday. McNeill was a combat medic who joined the Army in January 2003, according to the DOD.
McNeill did not talk much about Iraq but did say he was there to “get the job done,” said his stepfather, Jeff Fiely, of Ohio.
“He’s a young person that really celebrated and embraced life to the fullest,” Fiely said.
The other three soldiers killed in the explosion were: Sgt. Sean P. Fennerty, 25, of Corvallis, Ore.; Spc. Jeffrey D. Bisson, 22, of Vista, Calif.; Spc. Toby R. Olsen, 28, of Manchester, N.H.
All were assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Airborne Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, based in Fort Richardson, Alaska.