Fort Carson soldier dies in Iraq

A week after the 3rd Brigade Combat Team lost five soldiers in an insurgent attack, the Pentagon said Monday that a sixth soldier in the Fort Carson unit had died in Mosul, Iraq.

Staff Sgt. Chad A. Barrett, 35, of Saltville, Va., died Saturday as a result of a noncombatrelated incident. No details about his death, which is under investigation, were released by the Army.

He was assigned to the 64th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division.

Barrett is the 233rd Fort Carson soldier and the 29th in the 3rd Brigade to die in Iraq since the war began in 2003.

Barrett had been in Army since August 1996, and joined the 3rd Brigade Combat Team in February 2005, according to Fort Carson. The post said he was on his second deployment in Iraq.

According to Barrett’s My-Space.com page, he lived in Fountain. The Web site contained photographs of him with his cats.

“He loved to dance and make people laugh, his smile was infectious and his laughter could fill a room,” the profile on the page stated. “He was charismatic and outgoing, both qualities that every person who met him loved.”

Other photographs on the page showed Barrett smiling with family members and friends, in military uniform with a large black bow tie around his neck.

“We will miss the BBQ’s, parties and softball games. Most of all we will miss our friend,” Kelly Jean posted on Barrett’s MySpace page Monday night.