EVANSTON - After his first tour of duty in Iraq in 2003, local soldier David Julian joined other veterans and servicemen in dedicating a new Fallen Comrade monument in downtown Evanston.

Sadly, now his name will be added to the memorial statue.

Julian, 32, a long-time Evanston resident, died Monday during military operations in Baghdad. He and four other soldiers were killed by an Al-Qaeda suicide bomber, according to U.S. Army officials.

Julian was the first Evanston resident to be killed in action since the beginning of the Iraq war in March 2003.

Evanston residents have been taking the news pretty hard, said Marion Mclean, who heads the Committee to Support Uinta County Servicemen, a support group for military personal serving in the Middle East.

"It's been a tragic blow to our community … it's the worst possible news, I think," Mclean said in a phone interview Wednesday. "He definitely will be sorely missed."

Julian was born June 15, 1976. Mclean said Julian grew up in Evanston and joined the Army right after graduating from Evanston High School in 1994. She said he was on his fourth tour of duty in Iraq at the time of his death.

He was a member of the 222nd Armored Division, 3rd Infantry, based in Fort Stewart, Ga.

According to Star-Tribune records, Julian is the 22nd member of the military to die while serving in Iraq since the war began in 2003.

Julian and four U.S. soldiers were killed and three were wounded in the suicide attack Monday in the center of the Iraqi capital, according to the U.S military.

It was the deadliest attack on American troops in two months, Army officials said.

Julian was part of an Army convoy and patrol that had stopped in the Mansur district of Baghdad, a Sunni stronghold. A suicide militant dressed in a suit and tie approached Julian's patrol and detonated a bomb strapped to his body.

Mclean said Julian would come home to Evanston between his tours and was a great help to the support committee.

"For some reason, David was just phenomenal at coming to our different programs … he rode on our parade float and helped lay a wreath" in 2003 at the county's memorial for fallen soldiers, she said.

The memorial is located outside of the county building. The statue honors those soldiers from Evanston who gave their lives in past wars.

Julian is survived by his wife Erin and two-month old baby daughter Elizabeth. Mclean said his family flew to Georgia to be with them.

She said Julian's body arrived in Dover, Md. on Wednesday, but it's unclear when he will be returned to Evanston. Funeral services have not been set.

There are currently 93 Uinta County residents serving on active military duty, Mclean said. She said 27 of those are serving out-of-country.

"We have many people who don't believe in this war, but they sure believe in these soldiers," said Mclean.

U.S. Defense Department officials said as of Tuesday, 3,983 members of the U.S military have died since the beginning of the Iraq war. Officials said at least 3,238 soldiers died as a result of hostile action.

Reach southwest Wyoming bureau reporter Jeff Gearino at 307-875-5359 or at gearino@tribcsp.com.