Joan McDonald believes her son was a casualty of the war in Iraq. But the Army says that while he did suffer a severe head wound in a bomb blast, the cause of his death is undetermined, keeping him off the casualty list.

She and her family are demanding more answers in the death of Sgt. James W. McDonald of Neenah.

The 26-year-old was injured in a roadside bomb blast in Iraq last May. After treatment in Germany, McDonald returned to Fort Hood, Texas and underwent extensive facial surgery in August.

His body was found in his barracks apartment November 12th, a Monday. He was last seen alive the previous Friday.

The base says the Army ruled out suicide and accidental factors, but an autopsy could not determine the exact cause of death, in part because of the decomposition of the body.

Joan McDonald says she has no doubts about her son's death.

The family has asked Sen. Russ Feingold for help. McDonald has a copy of a March 11 letter the Democrat from Wisconsin sent to Maj. Gen. Galen Jakman at the Pentagon outlining her concerns.

She says her son loved the military and served two tours in Iraq.