BOISE - The Department of Defense has confirmed Wednesday that a Boise soldier has been killed in Iraq.

Officials say Sgt. Michael T. Lilly, 23, died in Sadr City, Iraq, when enemy forces attacked using a rocket propelled grenade. He was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment in Vilseck, Germany. Spc. Jason C. Kazarick, 30, of Oakmont, Penn., also died in the attack.

Lilly was raised in Boise and graduated from Borah High School. Officials said after high school, Lilly joined the Army out of patriotism, motivated to enlist as a result of the September 11 terrorist attacks on the United States.

Lilly leaves behind his wife who is from the Boise area, his mother and father who reside in the Boise area, two brothers, sister, a great grandmother, a grandmother, uncle, stepfather, in addition to numerous other relatives and friends.

"We are very proud of Michael, and we will miss him forever," said Lilly's mother in a family statement. "We all loved him very much. Michael knew he had an important job to do, and he did it. He knew what he was doing was important, and there was never any question in his mind that serving in the Army was what he needed to do. His whole life, he wanted to serve our country. He was a good son, a loving husband, a good friend and a patriotic person - that's why he joined the Army."

Lilly's father also made a statement.

"Michael loved Idaho, loved the United States and loved the Army," he said. "He was on his second enlistment and he told me he was going to re-enlist a third time. He felt so strongly about his career in the Army that he was willing to put that above everything else. With Michael, it was Army and country first."

This is the second local soldier who has died within the last week. Maj. Stuart Wolfer, Emmett, died on Sunday.