Brian A Botello

DES MOINES, Iowa — A soldier from northwest Iowa was killed when a bomb exploded near his unit in Iraq, the Department of Defense announced May 1.

Pfc. Brian A. Botello, 19, of Alta, was killed during combat operations April 29 in Baghdad, the Defense Department said.

He was one of three soldiers with the 3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, of Fort Carson, Colo., who were killed in the explosion.

Staff Sgt. Jay E. Martin, 29, of Baltimore, and Sgt. Alexander J. Funcheon, 21, of Bel Aire, Kan., also died.

Botello joined the Army after he graduated high school in 2005. He was deployed to Iraq in November...