R.I.P. Pfc. Raymond N. Pacleb

Army Pfc. Raymond N. Pacleb
Died March 29, 2010 serving during Operation Iraqi Freedom

31, of Honolulu, Hawaii; assigned to the 1st Battalion, 487th Field Artillery Regiment, Hawaii National Guard, Wahiawa, Hawaii; died March 29 in Baghdad of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident.

(The following was taken from www.starbulletin.com of Apr. 1, 2010) A Hawaii Army National Guard soldier, who volunteered to deploy to Iraq last year, died Monday in a non-combat related incident.

Army officials did not release details of the incident and said they are investigating the death of Pfc. Raymond N. Pacleb, 31, of Pearl City, at Camp Liberty in Iraq.

His family said that they will always remember him as an independent, generous and loving man.

Pacleb is assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 1st Battalion, 487th Field Artillery, 29th Brigade. He did not deploy with the artillery unit when it was sent to Kuwait in 2008-2009.

Pacleb volunteered to deploy as an "individual mobilization augmentee" with the Virginia Army National Guard's 229th Military Police Company as a supply specialist in October.

He graduated from Pearl City High School in 1996 and worked at the Marriott's Ko Olina Beach.

Pacleb joined the Hawaii Army National Guard in 2009 to better himself and make a change in his life, his family said in a written statement.

Maj. Gen. Bob Lee, state adjutant general said: "The passing of Private First Class Pacleb is heartbreaking. We know his tragic passing is a very solemn and sobering event for his entire family. The members of the Hawaii National Guard grieve along with his family during this difficult time.

"He exemplified the brave and patriotic citizen-soldiers serving America in Operation Iraqi Freedom. We have assigned a support team to assist his family and will continue to provide help and comfort in any way we possibly can."

There are 150 soldiers assigned to the Virginia National Guard's Virginia Beach-based 229th Military Police Company . Since Oct. 19 the Virginia-based unit has been assigned to the 49th Military Police Brigade.

The 29th Brigade spent 10 months in Iraq and Kuwait beginning in October 2008, but did not suffer and combat deaths. However, three of its soldiers -- Sgt. Julian Manglona, Spc. Cwislyn K. Walter and Spc. Casey L. Hills -- died during training or in a vehicle accident.