An explosive killed a soldier from Independence, the U.S. Department of Department announced Tuesday.
Army Cpl. Kory D. Wiens, 20, died Friday in the town of Muhammad Sath in Iraq, according to the announcement. At the time, he was on patrol with his dog, Cooper, who also died.
Wiens graduated from West Albany High School in 2005.
"He really cared for his family and his friends, and he was willing to do anything he could to help them in any way," Ashley Soto, a fellow 2005 graduate, told The Oregonian.
Wiens was assigned to the 94th Mine Dog Detachment, 5th Engineer Battalion, 1st Engineer Brigade, Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.
Kevin Wiens, also serving in Iraq, is escorting his brother's body to Oregon along with Cooper's, West Albany Principal Susie Orsborn told the Albany Democrat-Herald. Orsborn said she has talked to the soldier's father, Kevin, who lives in Polk County. She said the father has declined to speak with reporters.
"This is the fourth member of our school family to die in Iraq," Orsborn said. "It's just so sad. I want to make sure the family knows that the school's thoughts are with Kory."
Wiens and his dog were trained to find materials such as TNT, detonation cords, smokeless powder, mortars, weapons and explosive residue used to make explosives, according to article written by an Army public affairs writer and posted on the Internet March 16.
In the article, Wiens said Cooper, a yellow lab, didn't know simple obedience commands when they first met last year.
"I got to teach him all the things he knows today," Wiens said. "Seeing him out there working is very rewarding. It's amazing to see how far he's come."