An 82nd Airborne Division paratrooper died Friday in Jisrdiyala, Iraq, when his vehicle overturned.
Pfc. Lukas C. Hopper, 20, was an infantryman with the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team. The incident is under investigation, the 82nd's public affairs office said today.
Hopper joined the Army in January 2008. He completed infantry training and then Basic Airborne School at Fort Benning, Ga. He reported to the 82nd Airborne Division in May 2008.
Hopper's awards include the Army Commendation Medal.
"Today the battalion lost a treasured and dedicated trooper with whom it was a privilege to serve," battalion commander Lt. Col. Dave Bair said in an Army release. "Pfc. Hopper's great sense of humor, devotion to his fellow paratroopers, and his dedication to mission accomplishment set him apart from his peers. He will truly be missed."
Hopper is survived by his mother and father, Robin and Yancy Hopper of Merced, California.
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