Soldier from Roseburg killed in Iraq

ROSEBURG, Ore. (AP) - An Oregon soldier has been killed in Iraq, according to friends and family.

Daniel Leckel, 19, a 2005 Glendale High School graduate, died from small arms fire in southern Baghdad, said Steve Prock, Glendale's varsity football and former baseball coach.

Leckel served with the Army and was based out of Fort Riley, Kan. He is the 96th person in the U.S. military with Oregon ties to die in Iraq or Afghanistan, according to Gov. Ted Kulongoski's office.

Prock said he first heard Wednesday that Leckel may have been killed but he could not confirm it.

"We went to bed that night, crossing our fingers, hoping it wasn't true," Prock said.

The following day, he contacted Leckel's older sister, Tiffany, who told him her family was notified the previous evening that Leckel had been killed in Iraq.

The death had not been listed by Friday night on the Department of Defense Web site.

Leckel served as manager of Glendale's football and baseball teams.

"He was my right-hand man," Prock said.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)