R.I.P. Pfc. Kimble A. Han

Name: Army Pfc. Kimble A. Han

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Age: 30

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From: Lehi, Utah

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Assigned to the 569th Mobility Augmentation Company, 4th Engineer Battalion, Fort Carson, Colo.

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Incident: Army Pfc. Kimble A. Han died Oct. 23 in Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an IED. Also killed was Spc. Eric N. Lembke.

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Died: October 23, 2009

(Taken from heraldextra.com)A Lehi soldier was killed Friday while serving in Afghanistan.

Pfc. Kimble Han, 30, was killed Oct. 23 when his vehicle was hit with an improvised explosive device, according to a Department of Defense press release. Han served with the 569th Mobility Augmentation Company, 4th Engineer Battalion out of Fort Carson, Colo. Another soldier in the unit, Spc. Eric N. Lembke, 25, of Tampa, Fla., was also killed.

According to Fort Carson officials in Colorado, Han joined the United States Army in January 2008 and joined the Combat Engineers in December. He was deployed to Iraq in February 2009 and was then sent to Afghanistan in May.

Han leaves behind a wife, Melissa, and stepsons Brenden, 12, Austin, 9 and Caleb, 5.

Han's family said the soldier died doing what he loved - protecting the freedom of others. When he was killed, Han's unit was clearing mines along a dangerous route, said his brother, Jerod Han.

"He was on the front line," Jerod Han said. "They were the men."

Jerod Han said his brother never gave a reason for joining the Army - it just seemed to be what he was meant to do. Kimble Han's calling in life was to protect freedom, and he felt he was risking his life for the safety of others, his brother said.

"That's not a job to them," Jerod Han said. "It's a calling."

Han said his brother loved the Army because it game him purpose and meaning. His family were excited for him when he joined the armed forces and could see the difference it made for him.

"The Army changed his life for the better," Han said.

Kimble Han's family learned of his death Friday night, and are dealing with the loss as well as they can. Jerod Han said his father died several years ago, but the loss of his brother is harder to take. Jerod said he and his brother's wife had spoken with Kimble Han over the last two weeks. Such communication was not readily available to troops in the past, and Jerod Han said he believes it helped his brother through tough times to be able to talk to his family.

"That was a big comfort for him, to be able to call home," he said.

Jerod Han said he last talked to his brother on Oct. 17. His brother told him he was protecting the most dangerous highway in the world, embarking on a mission to clear mines and make the road safe for those following behind.

"I know him good enough that I knew the last time I talked to him on Saturday that he was scared," Jerod Han said.

Despite his fear, however, Kimble Han had a job to do, and he did it without looking back, his brother said. He firmly believed in doing what he was supposed to do, even if the task at hand was frightening.

"Live life with no regrets," Jerod Han said. "That was his legacy. Live life to the fullest."