The Department of Defense announced Friday a soldier from North Merrick died during combat operations in Iraq.

Spc. Scott M. Bandhold, 37, of North Merrick, was killed on April 12 when an improvised explosive device detonated next to the vehicle he was riding in. Bandhold, a Calhoun High School graduate, is the 18th Long Island soldier killed since the beginning of the war.

Bandhold was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 67th Armored Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, based our of Fort Hood, Texas.