Story Published:
Apr 16, 2008 at 3:04 PM CDT
Story Updated:
Apr 18, 2008 at 5:12 PM CDT
ROGERS, Ark. -- The family of a U.S. Marine with ties to Springfield learned early Wednesday that a land mine killed him in Afghanistan. Other details about the death of Cpl. Kyle Wilks, 24, are not available. The U.S. Department of Defense had not issued a news release about his death by mid-afternoon.
Wilks’ parents are Randall and Kathy Wilks of Rogers. He has an uncle, Steve Wilks, who lives in Springfield. The uncle was in Rogers on Wednesday afternoon and not available for an interview.
Kyle Wilks joined the Marines in September 2004. Relatives say he always had an interest in the military and law enforcement.
Wilks' vehicle was the fourth in a convoy of 36 vehicles when the land mine exploded.
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From The Associated Press on Friday:
ROGERS, Ark. -- The Defense Department announced a marine from Rogers was
killed in a combat operation in Afghanistan. Family members say Cpl. Kyle
Wilks was on a convoy when his vehicle was struck on Tuesday by a roadside bomb
in Kandahar province.
The family says a military report says Wilks was killed instantly.
Wilks, 24, was the son of Randall and Kathy Wilks and was a 2002 graduate of
Rogers High School.
Wilks' uncle, Steve Wilks, says his nephew had to stay behind because of a
health problem when his Marine Corps unit first shipped out for a tour in
Iraq. Kyle Wilks later found out that the soldier who went in his place
was killed by a roadside bomb. Steve Wilks says that knowledge makes his
nephew's death harder to grasp.
Family members and friends say Kyle Wilks wanted to go into law enforcement
after his hitch was up.
