Montana Discovers Local Soldier's Suicide in Iraq -- Files for Documents

By: A U.S. Army investigation has determined the December 2007 death of a 19-year-old Montana soldier was a suicide.

Jeffrey Castro, a spokesman for the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command, told the Independent Record on Tuesday that Pvt. Daren Smith died Dec. 13, 2007, of self-inflicted wounds. [As often the case, this information only became public due to the queries of a local newspapper.]

Castro declined further comment, prompting the newspaper to file a Freedom of Information Act request for details about the soldier?s death. Attempts to reach Smith?s family Tuesday were unsuccessful.

Records show that Smith, who was born in Butte and grew up in Helena, joined the Army in March 2007. He was deployed to Iraq around Nov. 30, where he was a cavalry scout with the 10th Mountain Division.