MV graduate dies in Iraq  

A 19-year-old Merrimack Valley High School graduate died last week of injuries resulting from "a noncombat-related incident" in Iraq, according to the Defense Department. Juctin McDaniel of Andover was a private first class in the U.S. Army.

The incident leading to McDaniel's death is under investigation, according to a statement from the Defense Department. It took place in Taji, Iraq, just north of Baghdad. McDaniel died Dec. 17 in Baghdad, the department said.

No further information about the incident was included in the statement, and no one from the department's public affairs office could be reached yesterday.

McDaniel served with the 524th Combat Service Support Battalion, 45th Sustainment Brigade, 8th Theater Sustainment Command. His command was based at Fort Shafter in Hawaii. According to the Honolulu Advertiser, McDaniel was a generator mechanic.

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By SARAH LIEBOWITZ

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