St. Paul Soldier Killed In Iraq

A young man who grew up battling for trophies on St. Paul ball fields lost his life in the fight for Iraq. Army Sergeant Mike Carlson died this week in Iraq, less than a month before his 23rd birthday. said Carlson wanted to join the army since high school. "He was excited about it. He wanted to do it for about a year, and then he went off into it and I was happy for him," Schreier said. He's remembering his friend and former teammate as a hero. Carlson had been in Iraq for almost a year. He was supposed to go back to his base in Germany next week. A military spokesman went to Carlson's family's home yesterday and talked to his older brother, Dan Carlson. The Carlson's parents are on a cruise, so Dan had to call them and tell them the news of his younger brother's death. Carlson's parents are on their way home tonight.Army Sgt. Mike Carlson