Kentucky National Guard Solider Dies in Iraq

Updated: Thu 4:43 PM, Sep 21, 2006

A Kentucky National Guard soldier died in Iraq of non combat-related causes, guard officials said Thursday.

Sgt. 1st Class Charles Jason Jones, 29, of Lawrenceburg died Wednesday in Baghdad, guard officials said.

"We do not have enough information to determine the nature of his death," said Maj. Gen. Donald C. Storm, Adjutant General for Kentucky. "It's currently under investigation."

Jones was assigned as a medic to the 149th Brigade Combat Team Headquarters. The unit of 50 soldiers deployed to Iraq earlier this year.

Jones, a graduate of South Laurel High School in London, joined the Kentucky National Guard in 1993. He was a full-time Kentucky National Guard soldier stationed in Frankfort.

He had previously deployed to Germany and Bosnia in 2002 and to Afghanistan in 2004.

Jones is survived by his parents, Col. Charles A. and Linda Jones.

His father is also a full-time employee of the Kentucky Army National Guard and was serving in Tikrit, Iraq, when the death occurred.

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