The Pentagon said a 25-year-old Schofield Barracks soldier has died in Iraq in a "noncombat-related" incident — the third soldier with Hawai'i ties to die of noncombat-related causes in Iraq in two months.

Army reports yesterday said Sgt. Devin C. Poche of Jacksonville, N.C., died Tuesday at Contingency Operating Base Speicher near Tikrit.

He was assigned to the Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division. The Army said the circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation.

Poche joined the Army in February 2005, and was assigned to Schofield Barracks in October of that year, officials said. Family could not be reached for comment.

Poche posted to the blog bodybuilding.com in December saying "weightlifting is a passion." On the site, Poche said he was 5 feet 9, 202 pounds, and could bench press 289 pounds.

The Pentagon reports all service member deaths in a combat zone as being either combat- or noncombat-related. Noncombat deaths can be the result of natural causes, vehicle or other accidents, friendly fire, homicide or suicide.

Two other soldiers with Hawai'i ties also recently died of noncombat causes: