OPELIKA MAN DIES IN KUWAIT

According to a unit official  Staff Sergeant Loretta Painter  19 year old Adrian Avila of Opelika, was fatally injured, when a gate fell on top of him, while on duty at the northern Iraqi border  circumstances surrounding Avilas death are currently under investigation, according to a news release from the Department of Defense.

Avila was transferred to the 1343rd back in February from the 167th Infantry Detachment  the mission of the 1343rd, is to provide protection and support, for soldiers crossing the Kuwait border with Iraq.

Funeral services will be this Friday morning at 10:00, at the Jeffcoat/Trant Funeral Home in Opelika. Graveside services with full military honors will be at 1:00pm, at Ft Benning, near Columbus, Georgia  visitation will be Thursday, from 5:00  7:00pm, at the funeral home.

Members of the 1343rd Chemical Company have been in Kuwait since July 3rd, leaving after a training stint at Ft Hood in Killeen, Texas.