A 23-year-old Milo man serving as a U.S. Army specialist was killed Wednesday when the 5-ton truck he was riding in turned over during a training exercise near Slagle, La., officials said Friday.

Spc. William Charles Koelsch III of the Headquarters Company of the 1st Airborne Battalion, 509th Infantry Unit at Fort Polk, La., was a passenger in the truck, which was towing a fuel pump, when it flipped over, said Samantha Evans, a public information officer at the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk.

This unit is the “opposing force” used in training for units preparing to deploy to Iraq or Afghanistan.

Koelsch served as a motor transport operator. He graduated from Milo’s Penquis Valley High School in 2004 and enlisted in the Army in September 2005.

He had been stationed at the training center since 2006. Evans said she did not know whether he had served overseas during his enlistment.

U.S. Sen. Olympia J. Snowe, R-Maine, was saddened at the news of Koelsch’s death.

“This tragic accident has claimed the life of one of Maine’s own and the thoughts and prayers of our entire community are with this brave soldier’s family and loved ones,” Snowe said in a statement. “There are no words that can adequately express the debt of gratitude we owe to someone who was so willing to answer his country’s call to serve.”

“All of Maine mourns the death of another brave soldier,” Gov. John Baldacci said in a statement. “We will keep Spc. Koelsch’s family and friends in our prayers during this difficult time.”

Flags will be ordered flown at half-staff on the day of Koelsch’s funeral, Baldacci said. No funeral information was immediately available Friday.

Koelsch’s mother, Brenda Lee Koelsch, lives in Fort Fairfield. A sister, Lisa Koelsch, lives in Waterboro and reportedly drove to Fort Fairfield to be with her mother. Neither could be reached for comment Friday.

The soldier’s father lives in Texas.

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