Location: 1759
Date: 7/16/2005
Rank: Sergeant 1st Class
Branch: U.S. Army
Operation: Operation Iraqi Freedom
Sgt. 1st Class Ronald T. Wood of Cedar City died Saturday and Sgt. Christopher L. Olsen of Logan and Spc. Eric J. Lund of Providence were treated for shrapnel wounds.
Their vehicle was struck by the “improvised explosive device” at about 4 p.m. Iraq time.
Lund had wounds to the back of his head, his back, and legs. His leg was broken in three places. His wife said he underwent surgery and was in good spirits. He was to be transported to a medical facility in Germany for further medical treatment.
Olsen suffered cuts and bruises and had shrapnel wounds in his left leg. His wife said he underwent surgery to remove the shrapnel and was doing well. All three were members of the Guard’s Bravo Battery, 1-148th Field Artillery Battalion, based in Logan.
Wood enlisted in the Guard in 1994 with the 2-222nd Field Artillery, and transferred to the 1-148th in 2003. He was a full-time employee of the Guard when his unit was mobilized in June 2004.
“I offer my most heartfelt condolences to (Sgt. 1st Class) Wood’s family,” said Maj. Gen. Brian Tarbet, adjutant general of the Utah National Guard. “This is a great loss for them and for the Utah National Guard. We’re mindful of the great cost that some families must bear in this war, and we pledge to them our full and complete support to assist them in whatever way we can.”
Gov. Jon Huntsman said, “Mary Kaye and I send our deepest sympathies. We greatly appreciate the sacrifice that (Sgt. 1st Class) Wood has made to help Iraq realize freedom. He is truly a hero.”