Return to Pointer View home page August 26,  2005

First woman grad dies in combat 

By Eric S. Bartelt
Assistant Editor 

Two Soldiers died Aug. 18, in Kandahar, Afghanistan, when an improvised explosive device detonated underneath their HMMWV during ground assault convoy operations, Department of Defense officials announced.

First Lt. Laura M. Walker, of Texas, who was assigned to the 864th Engineer Combat Battalion (Heavy), 555th Maneuver Enhancement (Provisional), Fort Lewis, Wash., became the first U. S. Military Academy woman graduate to be killed during Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom since 9/11.

Walker, 24, a 2003 USMA graduate, deployed with her unit in March to Afghanistan as a part of Task Force Pacemaker after a yearlong deployment to Iraq.

According to Walker, in an e-mail sent two weeks before her death, her unit’s mission was to complete a 120-kilometer stretch of highway from Tirin Kot to Kandahar.

The road is due to open Sept. 15, seven months ahead of schedule, which is an accomplishment, she added, that spoke highly of the dedication of the Soldiers and leadership throughout her unit.

Walker is the 26th academy graduate death since 9/11.

She was buried Thursday at the West Point cemetery.