N.C. servicemen killed in action

2 die in attacks in Iraq, Afghanistan

A Fort Bragg soldier and father of two from Illinois on his fourth tour of duty in Afghanistan was killed when a roadside bomb exploded near his Humvee.

Sgt. 1st Class James S. Ochsner, 36, of Waukegan, Ill., died Tuesday in Orgun-E, Afghanistan, when the improvised explosive device detonated during a supply distribution mission, the Defense Department said.

Ochsner, assigned to the Army's 2nd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group, came from a family of soldiers. His older brother, Robert Ochsner II, is a Special Forces member based at Fort Knox, Ky., and recently returned from Iraq.

His father was a Special Forces member during the Vietnam War, and his mother, Sandra, was an Army sergeant.

"I was in for five years, and ever since the time they were five years old they wanted to be in the military," said his father, Bob Ochsner. "I asked them why, and they said, 'Dad, you never said anything bad about it.' "

James Ochsner left behind his wife, Ann, and two children, Nicholas, 16, and Meagan, 14, who live in Hope Mills, N.C., near Fort Bragg.

Lance Cpl. Nickolas D. Schiavoni was a young man who found direction in life when he got married and joined the Marines, his grandfather said.

Schiavoni, 26, a North Carolina-based Marine from Haverhill, Mass., was killed Tuesday by a suicide bomber driving a vehicle while his unit conducted combat operations near Karmah, Iraq, the Pentagon said.

He attended an alternative high school associated with Haverhill High School and graduated in 1997 as the most outstanding student, said his grandfather, David J. Swartz.

"He found focus when he got to be a junior, and I was so proud when he was selected as the outstanding student," said Swartz. "When he got involved with his present wife, he decided to go into the service. She was good for him. He thrived with the Marines, and the Marines were good for him."

Schiavoni died helping another member of his unit, his grandfather said.

A sergeant saw a car that appeared peculiar and went to investigate. Schiavoni and another member of the unit followed in support. The car exploded, killing Schiavoni.

He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, based at Camp Lejeune.

It was his second tour of duty in Iraq. He had received a Purple Heart during his first tour, said his grandfather.

Schiavoni is survived by his wife, Gina Howe Schiavoni, and their children Marissa, 5, and Alex, 3. His mother, Stephany Kern, lives in Westerly, R.I., and his father, David Schiavoni, lives in Monson, the grandfather said.