December 2, 2004
Undergraduate Business Student, Zachary Kolda, Killed in Iraq

Cpl. Zachary A. Kolda, 23, a senior majoring in international business at The University of Texas at Austin, was killed in Iraq this week.

Kolda died Wednesday as a result of enemy action in Al Anbar province, the U.S. Department of Defense said Thursday. He was assigned to the Marine Forces Reserves' 1st Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division in Houston.

Kolda withdrew in good standing from The University of Texas at Austin's McCombs School of Business mid-way through the 2004 spring semester when the marines called up his reserve unit for training. The marines deployed his unit to Iraq in August.

During fall commencement exercises for undergraduates Dec. 5, the McCombs School will recognize Kolda with a moment of silence and an American flag draped over an empty chair.

Kolda is the second UT student to die while fighting in Iraq.

A selection of news stories on his death are linked below.

• "Marine remembered for his zeal for life"
  Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Dec. 12, 2004
• "Remembering Cpl. Zachary Kolda"
  NPR (audio), Dec. 10, 2004
• "Kolda remembered as funny, full of life"
  Corpus Christi Caller-Times, Dec. 3, 2004 (requires registration)
• "Marine showed love for life, brand new wife"
  Austin American-Statesman, Dec. 3, 2004
• "Marine who was UT student killed in Iraq"
  KVUE, Dec. 3, 2004 (includes video)
• "UT student dies in Iraq"
  KEYE, Dec. 2, 2004 (includes video, see
  KEYE 42 Top News Stories (Seg.1) 10pm 12-2-04)
• "Corpus man 113th Texan killed in Iraq"
  Houston Chronicle, Dec. 2, 2004
• "Corpus Christi Marine falls prey to Iraq death blast"
  San Antonio Express-News (requires registration)
   

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