Texan is 3000th U.S. soldier to die in Iraq

The new year rings in on a tragic note.

A grim milestone was crossed on the final day of 2006 and at the end of the deadliest month for the American military in Iraq in the past 12 months. At least 111 U.S. service members were reported to have died in December.

Spc. Dustin R. Donica, 22, of Spring, Texas, was killed Thursday by small arms fire in Baghdad, the Defense Department said. Donica was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Airborne Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division.

Donica's death brings to over 250 the number of Texans killed since the war began.

Vigils are planned for Monday, January 1st in memoriam and to ask for immediate U.S. troop withdrawal. Actions are scheduled for various locations around the Metroplex and across Texas, including Arlington, Dallas, Denton and Fort Worth.