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A soldier from Applie Valley died Sunday in Baghdad of wounds suffered when a bomb exploded near his vehicle, the Defense Department announced Wednesday. The department had earlier stated the soldier was from Rosemount.

Specialist Sean K. McDonald, 21, was assigned to the Army's 9th Engineer Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, based in Wiesbaden, Germany.

A spokesman for the Army's 1st Armored Division could not be reached for comment Wednesday night.

McDonald is the 55th person with Minnesota ties to die in connection with the war in Iraq and Afghanistan.

ANTHONY LONETREE