U.S. soldier dies from war wounds

WASHINGTON, May 13 (UPI) -- The Department of Defense announced on Friday the death of a Marine who was serving in Iraqi as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Lance Cpl. John T. Schmidt III, 21, of Brookfield, Conn., died Wednesday

from wounds received as a result of an explosion while conducting combat operations against enemy forces in Al Anbar Province, Iraq, on Jan. 30, the Department of Defense said.

Lance Cpl. Schmidt was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C. During Operation Iraqi Freedom, Schmidt's unit was attached to 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, the Pentagon said.