PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - A soldier from Oregon died in Iraq when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle, according to the Department of Defense.
     
Army Cpl. Chase A. Haag, 22, of Portland was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, based at Fort Hood, Texas.
     
Haag, who was killed Sunday, graduated from Parkrose High School four years ago, school officials said. Haag's family declined to be interviewed Tuesday, but a group of his former teachers and advisers gathered at the school to discuss a student who they say exhibited uncommon leadership.
     
Bob Forrest, a video instructor who retired two years ago, said Haag was enamored with video production, direction and editing. In a class of 30, Haag produced and directed a monthly news magazine for students. Forrest remembered, "above all, his integrity."
     
Forrest said he had health problems in his last years of teaching but could always count on Haag to take over the class.
     
"The other students looked up to him," he said.
     
After Haag graduated, he did freelance video projects. Teacher Julie Romey hired Haag to produce her wedding video and said he was very professional. She said she's in shock over his death.
     
Maria Fuhrmann, one of his former teachers, said it wasn't a surprise that Haag joined the U.S. Army because he was passionate about leadership and wanted to make a difference.
     
"You send them out of here, and you think that their future is so bright," Fuhrmann said. "It's just so odd to think that he's gone."
     
Based on a Web compilation by Gov. Ted Kulongoski's office, Haag is the 72nd Oregonian, or person with strong ties to the state, to die in action during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.
     
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)