Navy Petty Officer 1st class Luis A. Souffront, 25,of Miami, Fla., died Feb. 7, from wounds suffered from an improvised explosive device while serving in combat operations in Iraq. He was assigned to an East Coast based SEAL team.
"Miami Man Killed In Iraq"
A Miami man was killed in combat in Iraq last week, the Department of Defense announced Saturday.
Navy Petty Officer 1st class Luis A. Souffront, 25, died from wounds suffered from an improvised explosive device, according to a statement released by the Defense Department.
Souffront's cousin, Oscar, who lives in Miami, said the family was in mourning and declined comment on Saturday.
Souffront was the 22nd service member who was either listed by the Department of Defense as being from Miami-Dade County, or who had strong ties to the county, to be killed in Iraq including active military, reserves and National Guard.
There have been 14 from Broward County and at least 172 service members statewide killed in Iraq.
Souffront, an explosive ordnance disposalman, was assigned to the Defense Department's Naval Special Warfare Group II, which is based Virginia Beach.
He was part of a Navy SEAL team that had gone into Iraq on an assignment that injured six of his comrades, the Virginian-Pilot reported Saturday.
The newspaper reported that Souffront was the third combat death this week among personnel assigned to that unit.
Defense Department officials did not disclose details of the operation that led to Souffront's death.
''Petty Officer Louis Souffront was an outstanding EOD technician. Respected for his skill and courage, he was valued as a teammate by the SEALs he fought beside,'' said his commanding officer in a statement released by military authorities in Virginia Beach. The officer was not identified.
''His service to our country represented the highest ideals of our community and his loss affects us all. I extend my deepest sympathy to his family and friends in this most trying time,'' the officer said.
Souffront enlisted in the Navy July 24, 2000. After completing boot camp, he attended several specialized training schools and completed Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal School at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida in July 2002.
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