Army Sgt. Benjamin B. Portell
27, of Bakersfield, Calif.; assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, III Corps, Fort Hood, Texas; died Dec. 26 in Mosul, Iraq, of wounds sustained from small-arms fire during dismounted combat operations. Also killed was Capt. Rowdy J. Inman.
Bakersfield soldier dies in Iraq on second term of duty
The Associated Press
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — A soldier from Bakersfield who was serving his second tour of duty in Iraq was killed in Mosul when his Army platoon was ambushed.
The Department of Defense says 27-year-old Sgt. Benjamin Portell died Dec. 26 from wounds suffered from small-arms fire.
Portell’s pastor Brian Murphy says the soldier had just gotten married this year and was a devoted member of the Riverlakes Community Church.
Murphy says Portell’s older brother, Mike, is currently deployed in Iraq and a younger brother, Jeff, served a term there as well.
Benjamin Portell was assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, III Corps, in Fort Hood, Texas.
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