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Brandon soldier killed in Iraq

First Lt. Kevin J. Smith, 28, was killed after insurgents detonated an explosive near his convoy of engineers.

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published December 10, 2005

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) - A soldier from Brandon, Fla., died Thursday in Baghdad when a bomb exploded near the convoy he was escorting, his father said.

First Lt. Kevin J. Smith, 28, was killed after insurgents detonated an explosive as the convoy of engineers went along the Tigris River to a power plant, Smith's father, Clifford Smith, said. The blast also injured three other soldiers, Smith said.

Kevin Smith, a West Point graduate, was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 76th Field Artillery, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, based out of Fort Stewart, Ga.

"His commanding officer said that in Baghdad, there are two routes that are quite dangerous," Clifford Smith said. "This was one of them."

Despite the danger, Smith said his son, who had been in Iraq for about six months, rarely discussed his fears.

"He said, 'When my time comes, my time comes. I could be killed in a car driving down I-95,"' Smith recalled.

On Friday morning, Smith took down the yellow ribbon he had hung in his house.

"He really is home," he said. "He's at home with the Lord."

[Last modified December 10, 2005, 17:52:43]