FAMILY REPORTS OHIO SOLDIER KILLED BY ROADSIDE BOMB IN IRAQ

Family reports soldier killed by roadside bomb in Iraq

OHIO MAN WAS IN 101ST AIRBORNE DIVISION

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Lexington Herald-Leader
http://www.kentucky.com/779/story/411152.html

The father of a 101st Airborne Division soldier says his son was killed by a roadside bomb in Iraq.

Bill Haunert of Blue Ash, Ohio, said his son Branden, 21, enlisted in the Army last year and his unit was deployed to Iraq about five weeks ago.

The Defense Department has not confirmed the identification. The Army often waits at least 24 hours after a family is notified to announce a service member's death.
Branden Haunert was a 2005 graduate of Sycamore High School in suburban Cincinnati, where he played baseball, and attended the University of Cincinnati before enlisting. His father said military representatives told the family Sunday that the Humvee Branden Haunert was in was hit by a roadside bomb, and that he died at the scene.
The entire Haunert family is "devastated," Bill Haunert told The Cincinnati Enquirer on Monday. "His brothers are taking it pretty hard."
Bill Haunert said he and his wife, Tammy, have five other sons.
Bill Haunert said Branden wanted to serve his country.
"He knew he'd probably be going to Iraq," his father said. "He was doing what he wanted to do."
Branden Haunert joined the Army in the summer of 2007 and went through basic training at Fort Benning, Ga., before being assigned to the 327th Infantry, 2nd Battalion, 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, an Army post on the Kentucky-Tennessee border.
His father said he was doing well in the Army.