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Guardsman in Iraq noncombat incident was shot

MINNEAPOLIS — A Minnesota National Guard soldier who died of noncombat injuries in Iraq last week was found with a gunshot wound to the head, the military said Tuesday in a statement that did little to clear up the mystery surrounding his death.

Maj. Tad Hervas, 48, of Coon Rapids, died Oct. 6 at a base in Basra, where he was serving with the 34th Infantry Division, known as the Red Bulls.

In its statement Tuesday evening, the division provided few other details on the circumstances of his death.

“An investigation is being conducted by the Army’s Criminal Investigation Command on the cause of death,” the statement said. “A thorough investigation — which will include forensics, weapons testing, and an analysis of circumstances prior to his death — will determine a conclusion after all factors have been considered.”

The major’s father, Ned Hervas, said that was more information than the National Guard had shared with him as of Tuesday evening. He said an investigator had called him earlier Tuesday and told him he had nothing new to report.

“We think nothing will come out until after the funeral (on Saturday),” Ned Hervas said.

Capt. Paul Rickert, a spokesman for the Rosemount-based 34th Infantry Division, said he had no further information beyond the statement, citing the ongoing investigation.

Ned Hervas said the wait for answers has been tough for his family.

“We lost a son, and they’re going to do a very proper military funeral,” he said. “That’s what we’re concerned about. After that’s over, then we’ll find out.”

Tad Hervas, a military intelligence officer, died just a few days after returning to Basra from a trip home. It was his second tour of duty in Iraq with the National Guard. He also served in the Air Force during the first Gulf War. The major was not married and had no children.

Visitation is scheduled for 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Washburn-McReavey Funeral Chapel in Coon Rapids and one hour before his 10 a.m. funeral Saturday at Zion Lutheran Church in Anoka, with burial afterward at Fort Snelling National Cemetery.