Va. Army Reserve soldier dies in Iraq

FORT BRAGG, N.C. (WAVY) - The Department of Defense Wednesday announced the death of a Virginia Army Reserve civil affairs soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Spc. Steven Jesse Bishop, 29, of Christiansburg, died March 13 at Contingency Operating Base Speicher in northern Iraq from a non-combat related illness.

He was assigned to the 422nd Civil Affairs Battalion, 352nd Civil Affairs Command, U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command, Fort Bragg, N.C.

According to the military, Bishop joined the U.S. Army Reserve in April, 2008, attending basic training at Fort Sill, Okla. and civil affairs advanced initial training at Fort Bragg. He deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in June, 2009. As a civil affairs specialist, Bishop’s responsibilities included engaging key leaders, gathering atmospherics, conducting interviews with the Iraqi populace and coordinating the commander’s emergency relief program.

Bishop graduated from Floyd County High School in 1999. He is survived by his parents, Clyde and Cleo Bishop, of Floyd, Va.