Drum soldier in Afghanistan killed in attack on his vehicle

TIMES STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

FORT DRUM — Military officials said a 10th Mountain Division soldier from South Carolina was killed Friday in an explosion in Afghanistan.

The Department of Defense said Monday that 22-year-old Spc. Abraham Wheeler III, Columbia, S.C., was killed when the vehicle he was in was attacked by enemy forces.

According to a CBS News report, Spc. Wheeler was in the same vehicle as reporter Cami McCormick when it was hit by an improvised explosive device. She was seriously injured, and stabilized at a field hospital before being taken to a hospital at Bagram Air Base. From there, she was flown to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany for further treatment, the network reported.

Spc. Wheeler served as a signal support systems specialist with the 3rd Squadron, 71st Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division. He deployed with the 3rd Brigade Combat Team in January. This was his first deployment.

Spc. Wheeler is survived by his father and brother.

Family members told WIS-TV in Columbia that Spc. Wheeler had been a standout athlete in high school. His father said his son was excited about serving in the military and looked forward to returning from deployment in October.

Spc. Wheeler joined the Army in June 2007 and arrived at Fort Drum in January 2008. He completed basic training at Fort Benning, Ga., and advanced individual training at Fort Gordon, Ga., officials at Fort Drum said.