PALESTINE, Ill. – A 20-year-old soldier from southeastern Illinois was killed last weekend in Iraq, Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn’s office said Thursday.

The family of Army Pfc. Jacob Tracy of Palestine reported that he was fatally injured when his vehicle struck an improvised explosive device in Baghdad either Sunday or Monday, Quinn spokeswoman Elizabeth Austin said.

Tracy, who was attached to the 8th Cavalry Regiment based in Fort Hood, Texas, was born in Paris, Ill., and attended elementary and high school in Palestine, according to a written statement released by Quinn’s office at the request of the family.

He enlisted in the Army in August 2006 and had been deployed in Iraq since March, his parents, Don and Sheila Tracy, said in the statement.

“He was a special gift,” said his mother, “He was a loving boy. Were just thankful that we had him the time that we did.”

Funeral services were scheduled for June 27 at Palestine Elementary School.

Tracy is survived by his parents, two sisters, his grandparents and a great-grandmother.