A U.S. Army soldier from Decatur died Tuesday while serving in Iraq, according to a friend and family member.

Phillip Jenkins was deployed to Iraq in June. His mother was called Tuesday night by military officials and informed of his death, said Pam Lengerich of Decatur, a longtime friend of both Jenkins and his mother.

Jenkins’ uncle, Gary Hauter of Ohio City, Ohio, said he also learned of his nephew’s death Tuesday.

Jenkins, a 2002 graduate of Bellmont High School, is survived by his wife and two children, who are living in Hawaii, where he had most recently been stationed, Lengerich said. Jenkins is also survived by a sister, she said.

While in high school, Jenkins played saxophone in the band and also was a bagger at Scott’s Food & Pharmacy, Lengerich said.

She said Jenkins’ mother left Wednesday for Dover, Del., accompanied by military personnel, to identify her son’s body.

It was unclear Wednesday night how he died.

“He was a good kid all through his life,” Hauter said. “He always got along with people. He would do anything for anybody.”

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