Minnesota Soldier, 20, Killed in Iraq

MINNEAPOLIS – A U.S. Army private from Minnesota was killed in Iraq, the Army announced Friday.

The Pentagon identified him as Pfc. Edward J. Herrgott, 20, of Shakopee.

He died Thursday while on patrol in Baghdad.

He was the son of Marcia and Edward Herrgott of Shakopee and a graduate of Shakopee High School.

Marcia Herrgott said her son was shot in the neck by a sniper at the Baghdad museum (search). She said the Army told her he died almost instantly.

Edward Herrgott signed up for the Army shortly after graduating from high school and entered in January of 2002, she said. He had been in Iraq since May.

He was part of the 1-36th Infantry Regiment, 1st Armored Division (search), which is based in Wiesbaden, Germany.

"He joined the Army so he could have enough money to become a police officer," his mother said.

She said the family got the news of their son's death from two Army officers at 6:15 a.m. Friday.

Herrgott's parents last spoke with him by telephone on Wednesday.

He told them "that he was being transferred to (a) company that was in the bad part of Baghdad where they were getting hit all the time and soldiers were getting hurt."

The private also told them "that he loved us and he never wanted to see sand again -- he wanted to see a big old pool. It was hot there," she said.

Besides his parents, Herrgott is survived by two sisters, Elizabeth, 29, and Amy 22.

Marcia Herrgott said the Army told the family that his body probably would be returned home in about a week.