The Defense Department said today that 38-year-old Spc. Jonnie Stiles of Highlands Ranch, Colo., was wounded when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle. He died Thursday in Jalalabad of his injuries.
Born in Bartlesville, Okla., Stiles had had been assigned to the Louisiana Army National Guard, serving in the 927th Engineer Company in the 769th Engineer Battalion.
Louisiana National Guard spokesman Maj. Michael Kazmierzak says Stiles had been serving as a gunner on a Humvee doing route clearance when the blast occurred. He says the job typically involves checking roads for bombs and insurgents.
Stiles' wife, Launa, says that he was nearly killed last month when a suicide bomber blew up a military vehicle in front of his. She says he was still able to rescue three other soldiers and returned to duty before his 30-day recovery period was finished.
