By: E&P Staff The first female from Southeast Texas to die in Iraq perished as the result of a friendly fire incident, a local newpaper reported. The Department of Defense announced the death today, saying it was still under investigation.
Spc. Kamisha Jane Block, 20, died last Thursday in what military officials formally called "a non-combat related incident." But her family told the Beaumont Enterprise that she died in a friendly fire incident.
"She was shot in the chest by friendly fire," her aunt, Kathy Byerley, told the newspaper. "They haven't told us anything else ? the rest is under investigation. We just want to know the truth about it."
Her body returned home today. She was just the 88th female military fatality in Iraq, or 2.2% of the total.
Block, a Vidor native, joined the military in July 2005 as a military police officer and was assigned to the 401st Military Police Company, 720th Military Police Battalion, 89th Military Police Brigade since January 2007. She was deployed to Iraq in May.
"She loved people," her uncle, John Stuckey, told the paper. "She was out to help people with whatever she could." Block had plans to pursue a career in law enforcement.
Two days ago, the Beaumont paper reported: "Block was nearby when a roadside bomb killed Pfc. Brandon Keith Bobb, of Port Arthur, another military policeman, in July, Stuckey said.
"Block was the first female soldier from Southeast Texas to die while serving in Iraq, according to The Enterprise archives."
A guest book at the newspaper is filled with comments, such as:
"I am so sorry for your lose Kamisha was a very special young lady that left a impression on me that will never be forgotten. We both loved to go to the Outback steak house. We both arrived here at Ft. Hood together and Kamisha and I became good freinds May god Bless her and her family and freinds. James Kidd."
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