Falls City soldier Mitchel Mutz killed in Iraq combat

South Texas lost another one of its sons Wednesday.

Army Spc. Mitchel T. Mutz, 23, of Falls City, was killed in Baquba, Iraq, from injuries suffered when an improvised explosive detonated near his vehicle, said Fort Hood Public Affairs Spc. Steven Moore.

Sgt. 1st Class Schuyler B. Haynes, 40, of New York, who was riding with Mutz, was also killed.

Both men were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood.

"He was a brave young man to do what he chose to do," said his father, Bobby Mutz, former Karnes County Sheriff. "He went to Coastal Bend College for two years, then he came home one day and said, 'Well, I've joined up in the Army.' He said, 'That's what I want to do.'

"He had his eyes set on serving with the 1st Calvary," said his father.

Mutz was on his second tour of duty, having left on Sept. 2. He began his first tour in Iraq on his 21st birthday (March 17, 2004), said his father, and was there until March of 2005.

Mutz signed up in Feb. 2003, said his father, "but he had to wait until August of '03 to go into the specialized training of what he wanted to get into, which was a scout for the U.S. Army.

"He should be remembered as a brave young man that did what he thought he wanted to do to serve his country," said his father, adding that after his son returned from his first tour he signed up at the Texas VFW Post 8555.

Mutz was born in San Antonio and lived in Fall City all his life, said his father, "except for the time he was in the military, which was three years and three months."

According to the San Antonio Express News, Mutz's body will arrive in San Antonio on Monday. Services will be held at the Vinyard Funeral Home in Floresville, and burial will take place in Falls City. The dates have not been announced yet.

Mutz is survived by his father and mother, Bobby and Dixie Mutz of Falls City, and his brother, Nathan.