Teachers remember Pinson soldier killed in Iraq

A Pinson man has been killed in Iraq.

The Defense Department says Private William VanOsdol died Wednesday when an enemy rocket hit his barracks.

VanOsdol is from Pinson and attended Pinson Valley High School.

Teachers there remembered him as a quiet student with a good sense of humor.

They say VanOsdol came alive in English class when discussing British Literature.

“He just lit up on those stories and got very animated in the conversations that we had.  He was a big fan of Beowulf and Lord of the Rings.  That struck a chord with him,” Assistant Principal Karen Mardis said.

William VanOsdol was in the 172nd Support Battalion out of Germany.

More than 4300 Americans have died in Iraq since the war started in 2003.