Soldier from Pullman killed in Baghdad

A Washington National Guardsman from Pullman has been killed while on foot patrol in Baghdad.

Sgt. Damien Ficek, 26, died Dec. 30 while searching for insurgents, family members told KATU-TV in Portland. He also worked training Iraqi soldiers.

Before Ficek left for Iraq, he was enrolled at Washington State University as an athletic training student, said Bill Drake, assistant athletic director for athletic training services.

“Damien was a super young man – one of the best we had. He was a quality student, very dedicated. He was very mature for his age and very responsible,” Drake said.

After Ficek got his orders for Iraq, “he came in to let us know he was excited to go and it was his duty,” Drake said.

WSU officials had recently heard from Ficek, who told them he was planning to return to WSU to finish his studies to become a certified athletic trainer.

He would have been assigned to one of WSU’s athletic teams upon his return. Drake said.

Ficek was a graduate of Beaverton High School in Beaverton, Ore. KATU said he had been married for about a year and a half.

Ficek had served in the Army for four years, then signed up for the National Guard, which was expected to release a statement about his death today.

Ficek, who was based at Fort Lewis, had been in Iraq for more than a year. He was scheduled to return home in March, KATU said.

“He’d just e-mailed us to say he’d be back,” Drake said. “We are extremely sad for him and his family.”