FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa., May 24 /PRNewswire/ -- A Pennsylvania Army
National Guard soldier was killed in Khadasia, Iraq, by a suicide bomber,
Sunday, May 22.
Sgt. Carl Morgain, 40, Butler, was providing security outside an Iraqi
police station when a vehicle with taxi markings pulled near his HMMWV and
exploded.
The 9:52 a.m. blast also injured three other Pennsylvania National Guard
soldiers and four Iraqi police, none of them seriously.
"Sgt. Morgain exemplified the level of commitment our Pennsylvania
National Guard members give everyday," said Governor Edward G. Rendell. "With
1,000 of our Guard troops in Iraq and 2,200 who will soon arrive, our troops
have answered the call to duty in defense of not only the Commonwealth but the
nation. When we pause to remember this fine soldier, we should remember those
who continue to serve and pray for their safe return. Our thoughts and
prayers are with the Morgain family during this difficult time."
Morgain was sitting in the turret when the vehicle detonated some 10 yards
from his location. He was initially transported to Speicher Combat Support
Hospital and then airlifted to a hospital in Balad, where he died of traumatic
head wounds.
"This is a tremendous loss for the Pennsylvania National Guard," said Maj.
Gen. Jessica Wright, the adjutant general. "Our thoughts and prayers are with
his wife, Janice, his children, and his extended family."
Morgain was with 11 unit members, part of a four HMMWV detail, providing
security while the unit commander met with Iraqi police. The unit, Company A
(-), 1st Battalion, 112th Infantry, Butler, is part of Task Force Dragoon, a
force of 750 Pennsylvania Army National Guard soldiers. Task Force Dragoon
deployed to Iraq in December for a one-year assignment.
"He was a very popular soldier in Task Force Dragoon during our training
at Ft. Bliss and Ft. Polk," said Lt. Col. Philip Logan, commander of the
Pennsylvania National Guard Task Force in Iraq. "He was a great soldier, and
will be missed by all of us here. We will honor his memory by continuing the
fight."
The other injured soldiers were Staff Sgt. Steven Kerr, 35, Bradford; Spc.
Matthew Sweigart, 24, Mechanicsburg; and Staff Sgt. John Williams II, 43,
Mechanicsburg. All injured soldiers are members of the 112th and will return
to duty.
Morgain joined the Pennsylvania National Guard in June 2000 as a
traditional Guard member. He served four years of duty in the active Army
from 1982 to 1986. In his civilian career, Morgain was employed by T.W.
Phillips Gas and Oil Co., Butler.
He is survived by his wife, the former Janice Elaine Sanky, 40; daughter,
Madison Marie Morgain, 12; stepson, Zachary Taylor Macurak, 17; and his mother
Carol Fay Morgain. Morgain's wife is head of "Support our Soldiers," a non-
profit organization that has raised thousands of dollars from local merchants
in the Butler area. In turn, the organization sent care packages to deployed
soldiers. A trust for the Morgain family has been set up with the National
City Bank of Pennsylvania.
Morgain is the fourth Pennsylvania National Guard soldier to die of combat
wounds in Iraq. He will be posthumously awarded the Legion of Merit, Purple
Heart and Combat Infantry Badge.
The Army is investigating the incident.
CONTACT: Capt. Cory Angell
(717) 861-8829
SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs
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Related links:
http://www.state.pa.us
CONTACT:
Capt. Cory Angell, Pennsylvania Department of
Military and Veterans Affairs, +1-717-861-8829
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