Wisconsin Guardsman Killed; Father Hits Training, Equipment

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Updated: 5:28 PM Jul 25, 2006 Wisconsin Guardsman Killed; Father Hits Training, Equipment A Cedarburg man says his son -- a Wisconsin National Guard member in Iraq -- was killed in an explosion on his first mission. This has raised questions about his training and preparation for battle. Posted: 4:33 AM Jul 25, 2006 Reporter: Associated Press

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A Wisconsin congressman called on the Pentagon today (Tuesday) to investigate the admittedly inadequate training the Army gave a Wisconsin National Guard unit that had a soldier from Cedarburg killed on his first mission escorting supply convoys in Iraq.

Republican Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner says he wants to make sure on one else gets sent to Iraq without being adequately trained for the job they're assigned to do there.

The Department of Defense has confirmed the death of Specialist Four Stephen Castner. The military says the 27-year-old Castner was killed yesterday (Monday) when an improvised explosive device detonated near his Humvee vehicle during combat operations in Tallil, Iraq.

Castner was with the Army National Guard's First Battalion, 121st Field Artillery, based in Milwaukee. He had been a student at UW-Stevens Point.

His father had contacted Sensenbrenner with complaints about his son's training ... and Sensenbrenner contacted the Army.

A June sixth letter from an Army official acknowledged the mistakes in training procedures ... and Sensenbrenner says that letter is -- quote -- "a stinging indictment of the training and deployment procedures of the Army," especially relating to National Guard troops.