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Fallen Paratroopers To Be Honored at Fort Bragg

Fort Bragg will remember nine paratroopers Tuesday who were killed last month in a suicide bombing north of Baghdad.

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FORT BRAGG, N.C. — Fort Bragg will honor nine fallen paratroopers recently killed in Iraq with a private memorial service on Tuesday.

On April 23, two truck bombs killed nine paratroopers and wounded 20 others at a patrol base in Iraq's Diyala province. One of the blasts ruptured a building wall, causing a second floor to collapse. Military officials said it was the single deadliest attack for the 82nd Airborne Division in nearly 40 years.

Two of the soldiers who died were originally from North Carolina -- Staff Sgt. Clint Moore, 27, of Benson, and and Spc. Michael Rodriguez, 20, of Sanford.

The lives that were lost are not forgotten by those who continue to fight.

"We lived among each other, fought alongside each other and I was there on site when this happened. I want to let them know we are grieving together," said Lt. Col. Andrew Poppas.

Tuesday's service is open to the members of the 82nd Airborne at Fort Bragg and their families.

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