A volunteer firefighter from Hamilton Township was injured in Iraq and died of his wounds on Christmas Day.

According to the Department of Defense Web site, Army Private First Class Eric Wilkus suffered a non-combat related injury Friday. The site says Wilkus died in a German hospital on Monday.

Wilkus? neighbors say serving the community and the country was important to the fallen soldier. Doug Ashley remembers his best friend Wilkus as someone who never forgot the little things. Ashley adds that he was looking forward to Wilkus? return to New Jersey for his 21st birthday. According to the Ashley family, the fact that they don?t know more details about Wilkus? injury makes his death more painful.