Valrico Soldier, New Dad, Ivan Lechowich Dies in Afghanistan

Story has been updated to include the correct date of the fatal attack and the two other soldiers from Fort Leonard Wood who died as well.

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The ultimate tragedy of war hit home this week with the death of Army 1st Lt. Iva Lechowich, 27, a man whose week-old daughter was about to be christened.

The Bloomingdale Patch reports that Lechowich, who lived in Bloomingdale with his wife, Jen, and their newborn daughter, Natalie Marie, attended St. Stephen Catholic Church.

Lechowich died Sept. 28 after an improvised explosive device exploded during a routine clearance operation. The Bloomingale Patch reported that Lechowich was able to witness his daughter's birth a week earlier via a Skype connection.

The site reports as well that Lechowich was the son of Rick and Gina Lechowich of Blooomingdale and that the soldier attended King High School and the University of Florida.

According to a release from the U.S. Army, Lechowich was one of three soliders from Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., who died in the attack. Fallen soldiers Lechowich; Spc. Steven Gutowski, 24, Plymouth, Mass.; and Pfc. David Drake, 21, Lumberton, Texas, were assigned to the 515th Engineer Company, 5th Engineer Battalion, 4th Maneuver Enhacement Brigade.