Services planned for guardsman killed in traffic accident

(Hooker-AP) -- Services are planned this weekend for an Oklahoma National Guard specialist who was killed in a traffic accident. <br/><br/>Troops who fought alongside 22-year-old James Benjamen Pierce

Wednesday, July 7th 2004, 8:55 am

By: News On 6

(Hooker-AP) -- Services are planned this weekend for an Oklahoma National Guard specialist who was killed in a traffic accident.

Troops who fought alongside 22-year-old James Benjamen Pierce of Hooker say it's unbelievable he survived fighting in Iraq, only to be killed in a wreck.

Specialist Mikel Chapman says Pierce survived attacks by Iraqi insurgents armed with everything from rocket-propelled grenades to automatic rifles.

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol says Pierce was killed Sunday when his pickup truck left a Woodward County road and rolled four times.

Trooper Pat Fike says he smelled the odor of alcohol on Pierce, who was not wearing a seat belt. Fike says it's unclear what role alcohol may have played in the crash around 4:20 a-m Sunday.

Pierce's funeral services are planned for 2 p-m Saturday at the Hooker High School gym.