A Washington National Guard soldier from Port Orchard was killed Sunday during a non-combat vehicle rollover in Tallil, Iraq, about two months before his unit was set to begin returning home.

Spc. Samuel D. Stone, 20, was assigned to 1st Squadron, 303rd Cavalry Regiment, a unit of the 81st Brigade Combat Team.

It was the first death the brigade has suffered since deploying to Iraq last fall.

"We certainly had the hope we could get through the deployment with no deaths," Lt. Col. Paul Morgan, the brigade rear detachment commander, told The News Tribune. "We got so close, and to see this happen is just disheartening."

The rollover, in a M1117 Guardian Armored Security Vehicle, and remains under investigation. One other soldier riding in the three-person vehicle was injured, Morgan said.

The family is still finalizing details for a memorial service. They first learned of the death Sunday morning.

Scant details were available about Stone’s personal background, but he had previously served in the Washington National Guard’s 66th Theater Aviation Command.

The brigade, which includes 2,400 soldiers from Washington, mobilized for federal service Aug. 18. After training at Fort McCoy, Wis., and Camp Buehring, Kuwait, it arrived in Iraq in late October. It is spread among bases throughout the country, and about three-quarters of its troops are tasked with providing security for contractor trucks that deliver supplies across the country. Others provide base and personal security.

"The entire Washington National Guard is deeply saddened by the loss of Specialist Stone," Maj. Gen. Timothy J. Lowenberg, the adjutant general of the Washington National Guard, said in a statement. "The memory of his service and dedication will live on with our citizen soldiers and airmen forever. We stand firm in support of the Stone family and will do all we can to assist them during this difficult time."

Lt. Col. Ali Hunt buckled in, put the Chevrolet Equinox in drive and pressed the accelerator.

The car rolled forward. No noise came from the engine.

"Wow," she said. "That was cool."

And an organizer from the Hydrogen Road Tour 2009 was quick to remind Hunt after her five-minute ride that no carbon emissions were coming from the tailpipe either. The nine-day tour promoting hydrogen-fuel cell technology stopped at Fort Lewis on Monday, allowing soldiers and employees on post a chance to test drive the vehicles.

An 11-car caravan driving from south of San Diego to Vancouver, B.C., includes vehicles from Mercedes, Chevrolet, Nissan, Hyundai, Volkswagen, Kia and Honda. Two hydrogen fuel trucks accompanied the cars so they can refuel along the way.

Fort Lewis, the tour’s 22nd stop, was included on the tour because of its sustainable practices, event organizers said. The tour also stopped in Olympia, Seattle and Bothell on Monday.

The event started with the arrival of the cars, many of which were driven by Fort Lewis military and civilian officials. The post’s garrison commander told a crowd of about 50 people – mostly soldiers, government employees and family members – the vehicles’ performance impressed her.

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From News Tribune staff writer Stacey Mulick:

A Fort Lewis sergeant accused in Pierce County Superior Court of promoting prostitution involving two teenage girls now faces federal charges.

Sgt. Sterling Terrance Hospedales, 26, has been charged in U.S. District Court with sex trafficking of a child and attempted sex trafficking of a child, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office. He will make his first federal court appearance this afternoon.

In April, Pierce County prosecutors charged Hospedales, an infantryman originally from Florida, with two counts of first-degree promoting prostitution. He's been confined to the Pierce County Jail, awaiting trial since.

Pierce County prosecutors dismissed the charges against Hospedales on Friday to make way for the federal charges.

At the time of his arrest, Hospedales was assigned to the 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team and had been stationed at Fort Lewis since March 2005.

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The Auburn Reporter last week published a profile on Staff Sgt. Shaun Feero, a reservist with McChord Air Force Base's 446th Airlift Wing, about his life as a cop and airman.

This story comes from Maj. John Strahan, the public affairs officer for the 555th Engineer Brigade:

BALAD, Iraq – One hundred twenty five men sat patiently in the city hall chambers. The mayor and other government officials stood before them. One by one they waited for their names to be called. As each man was recognized, he stood up and walked to the podium to receive his graduation certificate.

These men in Balad, Iraq recently joined the ranks of more than 300 graduates of the Civil Service Corps (CSC) concrete and asphalt training program. In addition to the Balad ceremony two other graduations were also held in the Iraqi cities of Samarra and Ad Dujayl. The CSC program, coordinated by the 555th Engineer Brigade from Fort Lewis is just one of the brigade’s ongoing missions designed to support Iraqi reconstruction and economic development.

"I saw this as a chance to make a difference," said Lt. William Moiles, the CSC project coordinator.

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The folks are going to use C-4 explosives today through Friday, both day and night.

If you want to ask any questions or make any comments, call the public affairs folks at 253-967-0852.