By Associated Press
Decatur, AL – A U.S. Army soldier from north Alabama has been killed in Iraq. Relatives said Pvt. Ricky Turner of Decatur died Friday near Baghdad. He was 20.
His father, James Lee Turner, said the Army notified the family that Turner was killed when an improvised explosive device blew up a military vehicle he was riding in. The father said his son had wanted to join the military and stand up for his country, and he died doing what he wanted to do.
Turner joined the Army after graduating from Decatur High School in 2007. He deployed to Iraq last month.
Funeral arrangements are pending.
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)