Queens Soldier Is Killed In Explosion in Baghdad

An American soldier from Jackson Heights was killed in an explosion in Baghdad on Friday.

Specialist Jonathan Rivadeneira, 22, was finishing his fourth year in the U.S. Army and was deployed to Baghdad in October 2006 with the 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, Texas. He and three other soldiers were killed when an improvised explosive device detonated near their vehicle during combat operations, according to the U.S. Department of Defense.

Rivadeneira was a lifelong Queens resident, where his mother, Martha Clark, who is from Colombia, raised him by herself, a City Council member of Queens, Hiram Monserrate, told The New York Sun. Mr. Monserrate is a close family friend.

Ms. Clark declined to comment, according to Mr. Monserrate, who said she did not want to speak with the press immediately. She did not return phone calls yesterday evening.

After a Corona resident went missing in action in Iraq in May, Mr. Monserrate organized a support group for families of soldiers. Ms. Clark was very involved in the group, which meets monthly, Mr. Monserrate said.

"She was very active in support of other mothers who have suffered," he said. "The last thing she ever imagined was that her son was going to die in Iraq."

Rivadeneira is an only child, and he was married for two years to a woman he met at boot camp in Fort Hood, Mr. Monserrate said. They did not have any children.

The council member's office is leading efforts to bring Rivadeneira's body back to New York and making arrangements to bring Ms. Clark's family to New York from Colombia.