Polson family mourns soldier's death in Iraq

A Polson woman learned last week that her son was killed in action in Baghdad, just days before the nation honored the sacrifices made by its veterans.

A member of the Montana National Guard delivered the news to Julie Brooks last Monday, Nov. 6, that her son Sgt. Lucas T. White was killed after his unit was ambushed by small arms fire and an improvised explosive device. The 28-year-old was the leader of a striker patrol.

"He was devoted to his job," said his stepfather Lyle Brooks, also of Polson.

He added that White planned to make a career out of the military.

White grew up in Oregon, before relocating to Washington state where he graduated from White Swan High School in 1998.

He enlisted in the Army in 2001 and served in Afganistan. After he re-enlisted, he served in Iraq for five months.

Although a National Guardsman delivered the news to his family, White was on active duty for the Army, an Army spokesman said.

As a member of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, his body will come back to the states for a ceremony at the White Swan Long House.

There will be a military service at Fort Lewis, Wash., on Nov. 16 (today).

There will also be an interment at Arlington National Cemetery.

White left behind many survivors, including grandparents Bill and Diana Brooks, uncles Chad and Trent Brooks and aunt Bobbie Ely-Brooks, all of Polson.

"The death of Sergeant Lucas White is another poignant reminder of the enormous human cost exacted by the ongoing war in Iraq,"

Sen.-elect Jon Tester said in a prepared statement last week. "All Montanans join Sharla and me in extending our thoughts and prayers to his mother, Julie Brooks, father Mervin White, stepfather Lyle Brooks, and all other members of Sgt. White's family."