Aug. 9, 2008 — The Virgin Islands has lost another soldier with the death of U.S. Army Sgt. Errol James.
James died Monday at Forward Operating Base in Torkham, Afghanistan, according to the U.S. Department of Defense. His death was described as "non-combat injuries while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom." The incident is under investigation.
James, the son of Lambert Gumbs and Jermaine C. Gumbs-Dempster of St. Croix, was a native of Anguilla and a graduate of its Albina Lake Hodge Comprehensive School. He moved to St. Croix where he joined the Army and prior to being stationed in Afghanistan, resided in Germany with his wife and son, according to V.I. National Guard spokeswoman Karen Williams.
Meanwhile the V.I. National Guard's Family Support Office has arranged for counseling services for surviving St. Croix family members.
Williams said that VING, as it has when other local soldiers have died in the line of duty, is preparing to receive James' remains from a military escort but that as of Friday did not have a set time and date as to when the body will be returned.
A funeral — with the time to be announced later — has been set for Aug. 21 at Midland Moravian Church in Estate Glynn, Williams said.
James joins six other Virgin Islanders who have died while serving in the military as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. They are Army Spc. Jose Emanuel Rosario, and Marines Lance Cpl. Shane Goldman and Pfc. Jason Lynch (St. Croix); and Army Staff Sgt. Kendall Thomas (St. Thomas). In January 2007 V.I. National Guard soldiers Lt. Col. David C. Canegata III of St. Croix and Sgt. First Class Floyd Everett Lake of St. Thomas were among 12 people killed aboard a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter that crashed near Baghdad.
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