"An improvised explosive device exploded while he was running a counter IED operation," said Maj. Dan Bohr, spokesman for the 10th Mountain Division.
By Sharlee Joy DiMenichi
1st Lt. Seth Dvorin, a 1998 graduate of South Brunswick High School, died Feb. 3 near Iskandariyah, Iraq.
Lt. Dvorin was a member of the 10th Mountain Division, Battery B, 3rd Battalion, 62nd Air Defense Artillery Regiment U.S. Army who died after a makeshift bomb exploded while he was conducting a counterexplosive mission, according to Army officials.
"An improvised explosive device exploded while he was running a counter IED operation," said Maj. Dan Bohr, spokesman for the 10th Mountain Division.
Capt. Bruce Frame of U.S. Central Command declined to say what role Lt. Dvorin played in the operation or to discuss which specific techniques were used to defuse the bomb.
Capt. Frame said the first step in counterexplosives operations is to use military patrols or reports from Iraqi citizens to identify devices that appear suspicious. Military personnel must then determine whether questionable items are dangerous, Capt. Frame said. He said the final phase of a counterexplosives mission is to defuse the bomb.
"You have to disarm it and that’s where the explosives ordinance specialists come in," said Capt. Frame.
Capt. Frame said Iraqis’ guerilla tactics have required U.S. soldiers to be exceptionally versatile. He said many soldiers have been retrained upon arriving in Iraq to enable them to respond to ever-changing attacks.
"The coalition forces are learning and unfortunately it’s at the cost of service members and friends the coalition forces are learning about the insurgents and they (the insurgents) change tactics," Capt. Frame said.
Capt. Frame said Lt. Dvorin’s death would be investigated, as are all service member casualties.
"When a casualty occurs, there’s always an investigation to see if there was something, anything, that could have been done," Capt. Frame said.