TEMECULA -- An Army reserve captain from Temecula was one of five U.S. soldiers killed when an armed militia group attacked a provincial security meeting Saturday in Karbala, Iraq, Defense Department officials confirmed Tuesday.

Capt. Brian S. Freeman, 31, was among 25 troops killed Saturday around the country in the third deadliest day for U.S. forces since the war began.

On Tuesday, the Department of Defense confirmed Freeman died in Karbala, 50 miles south of Baghdad, from wounds suffered when the area in which he was involved in a security meeting came under attack from mortar and small arms fire.

Freeman was a trained civil affairs officer assigned to the 412th Civil Affairs Battalion, based in Whitehall, Ohio. He leaves behind a wife and two children, ages 3 and 1, who live in Temecula.

Freeman was deployed to Iraq in May 2006 -- his first tour of duty there, his father, Randy Freeman, said this week. After more than six months there, Freeman returned home for Christmas and headed back to Iraq on Jan. 6, his father added. Family members declined to comment further on Tuesday.

In the Karbala attack, the military said in a written statement that "an illegally armed militia group" attacked the provincial headquarters building with grenades, small arms and "indirect fire," which usually means mortars or rockets. The statement said three soldiers were also wounded repelling the attack.

"A meeting was taking place at the time of the attack to ensure the security of Shiite pilgrims participating in the Ashoura commemorations," said Brig. Gen. Vincent K. Brooks.

Karbala is 50 miles southwest of Baghdad and thousands of Shiite Muslim pilgrims have been flocking to the city for 10 days of festivities commemorating the death of one of the Shiite sect's most sacred saints, Imam Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad.

Freeman began his Army career in 1995 at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y. He graduated in 1999 with a degree in economics and was commissioned as a second lieutenant, according to the U.S. Army Civil Affairs.

He later served as an armored scout platoon leader assigned to Fort Knox, Ky. In 2002, he was accepted into the U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program where he trained with other Olympic hopefuls from the U.S. Bobsled and Skeleton Federation. Freeman left active duty in May 2004 and joined the Inactive Ready Reserve, according to the Army.

Freeman moved to Temecula with his wife, Charlotte, in 2004, where he began work with KB Home as a project manager.

Kenneth Ray, a former Temecula Valley Unified School District board member, remembers meeting Freeman in 2005 when Freeman was applying to fill a vacant seat on the school board.

"He stood out immediately," Ray recalled in a voice choking with tears. "I had coffee with him and told him to stay involved with the district because he had really impressed the entire school board. He had very young children at the time, but as they reached kindergarten age -- which would have been around the next election -- I encouraged him to run for the board."

Ray had continued to stay in contact with Freeman after his deployment through e-mails.

"I can't believe he's not coming back," Ray said.

Freeman's military awards include two Army Commendation Medals, two Army Achievement Medals, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Reserve Medal with "M" device, Army Service Ribbon, Iraq Campaign Ribbon, Combat Action Badge and an Air Assault Badge.

Freeman is survived by his wife, Charlotte, and his two children, Gunnar and Ingrid. He is also survived by his father Randy Freeman of Bakersfield and mother, Kathy Snyder, of Mendon, Utah.

- The Associated Press Contributed to this report. Contact staff writer Nicole Sack at (951) 676-4315, Ext. 2616, or nsack@californian.com.