New York Soldier Killed in Iraq

An American solider from Hancock, N.Y. was killed in an explosion in Mosul on Saturday.

Staff Sergeant Justin R. Whiting, 27, was on his third tour in Iraq as a Green Beret with the Third Battalion, Fifth Special Forces Group. He was killed when his vehicle struck an explosive device while on patrol, according to the U.S. Department of Defense.

Whiting was born in Belton, Texas, and moved with his family to Hancock in 1983. He joined the military two months after graduating from Hancock Central High School in 1999, his family said.

Whiting was an avid hunter and outdoorsman, his father, Randy Whiting, said.

"He was well-liked wherever he went," Mr. Whiting said.

"He could be quite the center of attention when telling the story of one of his exploits," he said. "Everything he did he did with gusto." Whiting was stationed at Qayyarah Airfield West, south of Mosul, according to Master Sergeant Brian Krebs, who served with Whiting. Whiting was responsible for conducting foreign-internal defense operations, which included training local police and military, Mr. Krebs said.