A Friedberg, Germany-based soldier who was killed Tuesday between Tal Afar and Mosul, Iraq, was identified Friday as Pfc. Ricky Salas, Jr., 22, of Roswell, N.M.

Salas is the first reported 1st Armored Division loss as the division begins its second Iraq rotation since the war began in 2003.

Salas died when a roadside bomb hit his vehicle while his unit was conducting mounted operations, according to a Department of Defense news release. Salas was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 37th Armored Regiment, which deployed to Iraq early in January.

Four others were injured in the attack. Three of the wounded were taken to a military hospital, while the fourth returned to the unit after treatment.

Soldiers from both the 1st Brigade Combat Team and the Baumholder-based 2nd Brigade Combat team are attached to the 101st Airborne Task Force in Iraq, while a majority of 2nd BCT soldiers are in Kuwait as a standby force.

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