Platteville soldier killed in Iraq Maj. Christopher J. Splinter is shown in an undated photo. Splinter, 43, a career soldier from Platteville was killed on Christmas Eve in Iraq, when the vehicle he was riding in hit a homemade bomb. (AP Photo/WISC-TV) By MELISSA TRUJILLO Associated Press Writer MILWAUKEE (AP) - A career soldier from Platteville was killed on Christmas Eve in Iraq, when the vehicle he was riding in hit a homemade bomb. The Department of Defense said Maj. Christopher J. Splinter, 43, was among three Army soldiers killed on Highway One near Samarra, Iraq. He was the ninth person from Wisconsin to die while serving in the Iraqi war. Also killed Wednesday were Capt. Christopher F. Soelzer, 26, of South Dakota, and Sgt. Benjamin W. Biskie, 27, of Vermilion, Ohio. The men were assigned to the 5th Engineer Battalion, 1st Engineer Brigade, based in Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. The fatalities were the first deaths for the battalion. The battalion, attached to the 4th Infantry Division, razed obstacles and helped the division advance during hostilities by laying roads and bridges. Since then, the battalion has been helping rebuild Iraq. The incident remains under investigation, according to the Department of Defense. Splinter was a native of Platteville and graduated from Platteville High School in 1979, said Maj. John Worthington, from the 646 Area Support Group in Madison, who was speaking on behalf of Splinter's family. "He was all-conference in football and track in high school," Worthington said. Splinter was married for 18 years to his high school sweetheart, Penny. The couple had two children, 13-year-old Mitchell and 10-year-old Rachel. The family lives in Ford Leonard Wood, Worthington said. Splinter joined the ROTC program at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville in 1986. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in business administration in 1990, went on active duty as an engineer and moved from Platteville. During his 13 years of active duty, Splinter spent one year in Korea. He also worked for the army reserves in Dubuque, Iowa. Splinter, who also enjoyed to hunt and fish, was sent to Iraq in July, Worthington said. In a statement, Splinter's family said he believed the war in Iraq was just. In a Christmas letter he wrote to his parents, Virgil and Barb, of Platteville, he said he believed the war was progressing slowly, but in a positive direction. "We will be successful, but must dig in our heals for the long term," Splinter wrote. "Ten years from now, Iraq will be the show state in the Middle East. This is dependent on America not losing hope and forcing the army to depart early." Eight other Wisconsin residents have died in Iraq. They were Army Sgt. Warren S. Hansen, 36, of Clintonville; Army Spc. Eugene A. Uhl III, 21, of Amherst; Army 2nd Lt. Jeremy L. Wolfe, 27, of Menomonie; Army Pfc. Rachel Bosveld, 19, of Waupun; Army Spc. Paul J. Sturino, 21, of Rice Lake; Army Reservist Dan Gabrielson, 40, of Frederic; Army Maj. Mathew Schram, 36, of Brookfield; and Marine Sgt. Kirk Straseskie, 23, of Beaver Dam.