Bradshaw’s vehicle was struck and heavily damaged by a roadside bomb. Initially there were no injuries, but as Bradshaw’s crew exited the vehicle, a local civilian truck hit another bomb close behind the patrol vehicle and killed the lieutenant.

Bradshaw, 24, was assigned to Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Airborne Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, which deployed in February.

Bradshaw, from Steilacoom, Wash., was a graduate of Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Wash. He had a bachelor’s degree in political science. He was commissioned as an infantry officer through the Army ROTC program in May 2007. He entered the Army in June 2007, and after additional training joined soldiers at Fort Richardson in August 2008.

Bradshaw’s next of kin have been notified.

This article published in The Alaska Star on Thursday, July 2, 2009.