Missouri soldier killed in Iraq

EDINA, Mo. -- A 26-year-old soldier from northeast Missouri was killed over the weekend in Iraq, authorities said.

Sgt. Travis Lee Burkhardt, of Edina, died in a vehicular accident Friday morning near Baghdad, according to his mother, Kathy Shipley of Kahoka, Mo.

"I'm still unclear on the time," Shipley said. "They said Fort Lewis was notified at 10:30 Friday night; they said he was killed at 11:30 Friday morning, Iraq time."

Burkhardt, who joined the Army in 1995 to pursue an interest in law enforcement, was stationed in Iraq as a member of an Army military police unit. He was deployed out of Fort Lewis, Wash.

"He wanted to be a policeman," said Burkhardt's father, David Burkhardt, also of Edina. "He had always been interested in law enforcement."

David Burkhardt said his son was a highly honored soldier who most recently received an Army award for saving a life in 2002.

"Travis was a patriotic man with a great sense of duty and compassion, and he was a very good father to his children," David Burkhardt said.

Travis Burkhardt's brother, Sgt. Justin Burkhardt, serves with the 4207th Medical Unit, based in Greentop, Mo. He is also in Iraq. David Burkhardt said Justin wanted to escort his brother's body home, but was unable to do so.

Travis Burkhardt is survived by his wife, Rose; two children, Soliga, 3, and Christian, 1; his parents, David Burkhardt of Edina, and Kathy Shipley of Kahoka, Mo.; one brother, Justin; and one sister, Alicia Burkhardt of Edina and Kahoka.