COLCHESTER, Vt. (AP) – A Vermont National Guard soldier was killed when the observation post he was in was attacked by a group of insurgents in the Iraqi city of Ramadi.

Spc. Christopher Merchant, 32, of Hardwick was killed at about 6 a.m. Wednesday Vermont time when two rocket propelled grenades hit the stationary, armored Humvee he was in that was near an Iraq police headquarters.

The rocket attack was followed by small arms fire and two vehicle-carried suicide bomb attacks on the police station.

Vermont National Guard chief Martha Rainville said other American soldiers in the area responded to the attack.

“In less than five minutes they had that area shut down and had eliminated the threat,” Rainville said.

Two New Hampshire Guard soldiers – Sgt. Jose Pequeno, 32, of Lisbon, N.H., and Pvt. Richard Ghent, 20, of Rochester, N.H. – were wounded in the same attack. Rainville described Pequeno’s wounds as “critical” while Ghent was less seriously hurt.

Three members of the Iraqi police were wounded. Rainville said three insurgents were killed.

Merchant leaves behind a wife Monica and four children, ages 9 to 14. In civilian life, Merchant was a custodian at the Peoples Academy in Morrisville.

He was the second Vermont National Guardsman from Hardwick to die in Iraq while serving with Task Force Saber. Spc. Scott McLaughlin was killed last Sept. 22.

Merchant was a 1991 graduate of Peoples Academy. He served in the Army from 1991 to 1995 and the National Guard from 1996 to 1999. He rejoined the Guard last year so he could serve with Task Force Saber. He arrived in Iraq in October, three months after the rest of the group.

Rainville said Merchant’s widow said he wanted to make a difference.

“I think it says that he is somebody who is selfless, who is willing to put himself at risk for the chance of making a difference, and there’s no guarantees when somebody goes to a volatile situation, like Iraq or Afghanistan or wherever,” said Rainville. “But he was willing to take that risk.”

Rainville said the Merchant family asked not to be contacted by the media.

“It is a sad day for the family and friends of Christopher Merchant, the Vermont National Guard, the town of Hardwick and indeed for all of Vermont,” Gov. James Douglas said at a news conference.

“Those who volunteer to serve in our armed forces did so because of their faith in America, their faith in liberty, their faith in democracy, their faith in each other. Chris Merchant’s family, friends, Guard unit are in our hearts and prayers at this very difficult time,” said the governor.

A total of 21 U.S. service member with Vermont ties have been killed in action in Iraq. A 22nd soldier died of natural causes in Kuwait while waiting to enter Iraq.

Ten of those soldiers belonged to the Vermont National Guard. Merchant was the sixth member of Task Force Saber to die since the unit arrived in Ramadi last July.

“Each one is an enormous loss,” Rainville said. “I think that sometimes numbers obscure the real impact of it. If you start talking the tenth versus the fifth versus the first one, each soldier is just this wonderful unique person. They each bring their own talents and their own character and their own friendships into this.”

Ramadi is in the heart of the so-called Sunni Triangle, one of the most dangerous places in Iraq for American service members.

“Saber is having a long deployment,” Rainville said. “They have stood fast. With each loss they have just hardened their resolve. They see what they’re accomplishing. They see what’s happening on the ground. They also see the enormous cost and nobody is paying it more than they are right there on the ground.”

Task Force Saber is part of a brigade combat team led by the Pennsylvania National Guard. Merchant was a member of C Company of the 1st Battalion of the 172nd Armor Regiment based in Morrisville.

Funeral arrangements had not yet been made on Thursday.