Sgt. Austin D. Pratt, 22, of Cadet, MO. died December 15 in Balad, Iraq while supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Pratt was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) out of Fort Polk, La.
The Department of Defense says Pratt died after sustaining non-combat related injuries in Baghdad. He was stationed at Fort Polk, Louisiana.
The incident is currently under investigation.
He was a standout baseball player in Potosi who followed his father into the military.
The younger Pratt is one of eight children to David and Monica Pratt. His mother works at a local Catholic school.
Austin Pratt played baseball for Potosi high school. Growing up, he also played in a summer league with the Mineral Area Baseball Association and went to two World Series games. He was a pitcher, catcher and played third base.
For a time, Pratt wanted to go to college and play baseball, a relative said. But that changed after graduation, when he decided to serve his country. He joined the Army in May 2004 and had been stationed at Fort Polk since September 2004.
Pratt was a gunner who already had served one tour in Afghanistan. This tour in Iraq was his second deployment.
Lawson, the baseball coach, said Pratt returned a few years ago, asking if he could have old bats and mitts because some of the soldiers wanted to start a league. Lawson was happy to give him the old gear.
Pratt was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) out of Fort Polk, La.
The Department of Defense says Pratt died after sustaining non-combat related injuries in Baghdad. He was stationed at Fort Polk, Louisiana.
The incident is currently under investigation.
He was a standout baseball player in Potosi who followed his father into the military.
The younger Pratt is one of eight children to David and Monica Pratt. His mother works at a local Catholic school.
Austin Pratt played baseball for Potosi high school. Growing up, he also played in a summer league with the Mineral Area Baseball Association and went to two World Series games. He was a pitcher, catcher and played third base.
For a time, Pratt wanted to go to college and play baseball, a relative said. But that changed after graduation, when he decided to serve his country. He joined the Army in May 2004 and had been stationed at Fort Polk since September 2004.
Pratt was a gunner who already had served one tour in Afghanistan. This tour in Iraq was his second deployment.
Lawson, the baseball coach, said Pratt returned a few years ago, asking if he could have old bats and mitts because some of the soldiers wanted to start a league. Lawson was happy to give him the old gear.
Sgt. Austin D. Pratt, 22, of Cadet, MO. died December 15 in Balad, Iraq while supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Pratt was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) out of Fort Polk, La.
The Department of Defense says Pratt died after sustaining non-combat related injuries in Baghdad. He was stationed at Fort Polk, Louisiana.
The incident is currently under investigation.
He was a standout baseball player in Potosi who followed his father into the military.
The younger Pratt is one of eight children to David and Monica Pratt. His mother works at a local Catholic school.
Austin Pratt played baseball for Potosi high school. Growing up, he also played in a summer league with the Mineral Area Baseball Association and went to two World Series games. He was a pitcher, catcher and played third base.
For a time, Pratt wanted to go to college and play baseball, a relative said. But that changed after graduation, when he decided to serve his country. He joined the Army in May 2004 and had been stationed at Fort Polk since September 2004.
Pratt was a gunner who already had served one tour in Afghanistan. This tour in Iraq was his second deployment.
Lawson, the baseball coach, said Pratt returned a few years ago, asking if he could have old bats and mitts because some of the soldiers wanted to start a league. Lawson was happy to give him the old gear.
Pratt was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) out of Fort Polk, La.
The Department of Defense says Pratt died after sustaining non-combat related injuries in Baghdad. He was stationed at Fort Polk, Louisiana.
The incident is currently under investigation.
He was a standout baseball player in Potosi who followed his father into the military.
The younger Pratt is one of eight children to David and Monica Pratt. His mother works at a local Catholic school.
Austin Pratt played baseball for Potosi high school. Growing up, he also played in a summer league with the Mineral Area Baseball Association and went to two World Series games. He was a pitcher, catcher and played third base.
For a time, Pratt wanted to go to college and play baseball, a relative said. But that changed after graduation, when he decided to serve his country. He joined the Army in May 2004 and had been stationed at Fort Polk since September 2004.
Pratt was a gunner who already had served one tour in Afghanistan. This tour in Iraq was his second deployment.
Lawson, the baseball coach, said Pratt returned a few years ago, asking if he could have old bats and mitts because some of the soldiers wanted to start a league. Lawson was happy to give him the old gear.
