An Army sergeant from Bossier City has been killed in Iraq by a roadside bomb that detonated near her military vehicle.
Sgt. Julia Atkins, 22, died Saturday when the vehicle ran over an insurgent's bomb in Baghdad.
Atkins was a military police officer on second tour of duty in the war, family members said.
Her father, Billy, said Atkins was scheduled to leave Iraq in
February. She was planning to get out of the Army, go to college and
get married. Her fiancé is also stationed in Iraq.
"I'm proud of her. She served her country and everything. We know
the obligation, the burden we had to bear," said Mr. Atkins, who also
served in Iraq with the Louisiana National Guard.
Atkins was the 50th female soldier to die in the Iraq war since 2003. Forty-eight were from the United States.
Atkins was stationed at Ford Hood, Texas, her father said. He said
he spent time with her at Fort Hood when he went there for training
before his National Guard unit was sent to Iraq. She was travelling with SGT Horn and SPC
Linville. SGT Horn suffered minor head injuries. SPC Linville
suffered shrapnel injuries to his legs. Both will be sent to Germany
for further evaluation.
An Army sergeant from Bossier City has been killed in Iraq by a roadside bomb that detonated near her military vehicle.
