A 23-year-old Army soldier from Salem was killed in Iraq on Saturday, June 13, when an improvised explosive device (IED) that his explosive ordnance disposal team was working to neutralize blew up.

Staff Sgt. Edmond L. Lo, who was assigned to the 797th Ordnance Company, 79th Ordnance Battalion at Fort Hood in Texas was a 2004 graduate of Salem High School where he was active in the Air Force Junior ROTC program. He was killed in Sammara City.

“Everybody who knew him in JROTC is devastated, understandably so,” said Marc Palermo, a friend and classmate of Lo’s who was also active in the program.

Lo joined the Army in 2004, according to Chief Tom Puzzo of the JROTC program at the school. As a cadet, Lo had been commander of the colorguard, participated in competition drill teams, and served as the operations squadron commander.

Puzzo described him as dedicated and hardworking, a leader who was infectious, not flashy. A quiet professional.

“He knew how to get the job done and others followed his lead,” said Puzzo, who taught Lo for two years. “He was a great kid all around. He was very popular. If you met him, you liked him.”

Lo is one of six children. He was three older sisters, an older brother, and a younger brother, Norman, who was a JROTC cadet.

Lo had the opportunity to attend the Rochester Institute of Technology but instead chose to join the military When Lo came home, he would visit Puzzo and stay for dinner.

“I think he was proud to be in the Army,” said Puzzo who saw him at Christmas.

According to published reports, Lo’s family was informed of his death on Saturday, June 13, and was escorted the next day to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware where they saw the transfer of the flag-draped case containing his remains by a military honor guard.

“Sgt. Lo served his nation with dignity, courage and honor and sacrificed protecting all of us,” New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch said in a written statement. “He is a hero to us all. On behalf of the citizens of New Hampshire, our deepest sympathies go out to the entire Lo family.”

Palermo, who has known Lo since third grade, described his friend as smart and driven and “one of the nicest, gentlest kids” he has known.

Lo liked video games, “goofing around,” and going to the movies. He enjoyed watching “Family Guy” and “The Simpsons” on television.

Both students were shy but through JROTC, Lo learned how to lead, grew, and some of his shyness wore off, Palermo said. He and the instructors help Palermo get motivated and into shape.

Palermo went on to Daniel Webster College in Nashua to study aviation management. He received letters from Lo when he went through basic training and saw him when he was on leave.

“He loved the (physical training), the work he did,” said Palermo. “You could truly see it in the way he talked. He truly loved what he did in the Army.”

Lo is the third Salem soldier to have died in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Marine Lance Cpl. Robert Moscillo, 21, was killed in May, 2006, when the Humvee he was riding in hit a land mine.

In October 2006, Army Cpl. Nicholas Arvanitis, 23, was killed by gunfire. The two men were members of Salem High School’s Class of 2003.