Local Soldier, Keith Yoakum, Killed in Iraq

by DJ Thursday, Feb. 08, 2007 at 6:30 PM

Chief Warrant Officer Keith Yoakum, 41, died Feb. 2 in Taji, Iraq, of wounds suffered when the Apache helicopter he was flying in was forced to land during combat operations, the Department of Defense announced today.

Local Soldier, Keith...
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Hemet grad killed in Iraq

01:57 PM PST on Wednesday, February 7, 2007

The Press-Enterprise

A 1984 graduate of Hemet High School has died in Iraq, the fifth alum of the school and the sixth from the district to be killed in the conflict.

Chief Warrant Officer Keith Yoakum, 41, died Feb. 2 in Taji, Iraq, of wounds suffered when the Apache helicopter he was flying in was forced to land during combat operations, the Department of Defense announced today.

He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 227th Aviation Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

Other Hemet School District alumni to die in Iraq:

Army Spc. Jason Chappell, 22, died in a roadside bomb attack in January 2004.

Marine Cpl. Michael Estrella, 20, died June 2006 when his patrol came under enemy fire.

Army Pfc. Kenny Francis Stanton Jr., 20, died in October 2006 in a roadside bombing.

Navy Corpsman Charles Otto "Otter" Sare, 23, was killed in an October, 2006 roadside bombing.

Lance Cpl. Jeromy D. West, 20, of Aguanga, died November 2006 while conducting combat operations.

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