Four Fort Lewis soldiers killed in Iraq Monday

A Fort Lewis brigade on the tail end of a 15-month tour of duty in Iraq has lost four soldiers as a result of an explosion Monday in Baqubah in Diyala Province.

The 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division is scheduled to return to Fort Lewis in late September or early October, but has endured a difficult few weeks that has claimed the lives of 10 soldiers since July 31.

The four soldiers killed Monday were:

Staff Sgt. Jacob M. Thompson, 26, of North Mankato, Minn.; Sgt. Nicholas A. Gummersall, 23, of Chubbuck, Idaho; Cpl. Juan M. Alcantara, 22, of New York; and Spc. Kareem R. Khan, 20, of Manahawkin, N.J.

They were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division at Fort Lewis.

Since departing for Iraq last June, the 3rd brigade has lost 47 soldiers, according to Joe Piek, a Fort Lewis spokesman.

The 3rd Brigade was one of two Fort Lewis combat brigades now in Iraq that both use armored Stryker vehicles in their patrols.

All together, Fort Lewis has some 11,000 soldiers now in Iraq.