Associated Press NEW ORLEANS — A soldier from eastern New Orleans was killed in Iraq when the vehicle he shared with two other soldiers rolled into a canal, military officials said.Sgt. Rene Knox Jr., 22, of New Orleans died along with Sgt. Chad W. Lake, 26, of Ocala, Fla., and Spc. Dakotah Gooding, 21, of Des Moines, Iowa, according to the Department of Defense.The accident occurred early Sunday.Knox was a graduate of Alfred Lawless High School, said Sheila Cordier, a cousin of Knox’s father.Knox’s parents were unavailable Tuesday night.Rene Knox Sr. had also served in Iraq, Cordier said.Cordier said her cousin was taking the news hard.“That was his oldest son, and he himself just returned from serving in the Army in Iraq last year,” she said.Knox was the second of five children of Rene Knox Sr. and his wife, Eliria Knox, she said.Though Knox and his two comrades were killed while on combat patrol near Balad, the Army classified their deaths as non-hostile because they were not under fire at the time of the accident.Five soldiers were injured when they tried to rescue the three, according to the Army.


Rene Knox, Jr. on Sunday, February 13, 2005. Husband of Thelma Simone Knox of Hinesville, GA. Father of Lyonna Wilson of Hinesville, GA. Son of Rene and Eliria Knox, Sr. Brother of Eliria Roussel, Christopher, Jeremiah and Keli Knox. Grandson of Daniel B. and Eliria M. Foy, Sr., Percy Knox, Sr. and the late Era Mae Knox. Step-grandson of Barbara Knox. Son-in-law of Dan and Rodena Lowry of Hinesville, GA. Brother-in-law of Leslie and Rochelle Lowry of Jacksonville, FL, Leroy Lowry of Lynn, MA and Jordan Roussel. Godson of Brian Foy, Sr. and Charlene Garrett. Uncle of Jordan Rene Roussel. He is also survived by a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, other relatives and friends. Relatives and friends of the family, Pastors, Officers and Members of Franklin Avenue B.C., and True Vine M.B.C., Priests and Parishioners of St. Augustine, St. Peter Claver, Corpus Christi and St. Louis Cathedral Catholic Churches, sisters of the Holy Family, also Faculty, Staff, Students and Members of JROTC, Alfred Lawless Senior High, Valena C. Jones, McDonogh No 42, and St. Louis Cathedral Elementary Schools, employees of L&R Security, Central Freight Line, Creative Touch Gift Shop, the U.S. Reserve Units 355 Quarter Master Company, 1192nd and 441st Transportation Company, 692nd Quarter Master Battalion, 2nd and 349th Logistical Support Battalion, 5th Battalion, 5th Air Defense Artillery and 5-7 Cav (311) are all invited to attend the funeral service held on Wednesday, February 23, 2005 at 12:00 noon at Franklin Ave. Baptist Church, 2515 Franklin Ave. Visitation will begin at 11:00am until funeral time. Interment: Mount Olivet Cemetery. Arrangements by D.W. Rhodes Funeral Home, 1716 N. Claiborne Ave. Please visit www.rhodesfuneral.com to sign guestbook.
Published in The Times-Picayune on 2/22/2005.