The Department of Defense only today confirmed the death of a 19-year-old Claremore soldier killed in action in Afghanistan.
KRMG has obtained the release issued by the DoD Wednesday afternoon.
It reads:
KRMG has contacted the DoD in Washington, D.C. to request additional information.
<i>The Department of Defense announced today the deaths of four soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. </i>
<i> They died Sept. 16 in Zabul province, Afghanistan of injuries suffered when their position was attacked with small arms fire. </i>
<i> Killed were: </i>
<i> Sgt. Sapuro B. Nena, 25, of Honolulu, assigned to 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., </i>
<i> Spc. Joshua N. Nelson, 22, Greenville, N.C., assigned to 202nd Military Intelligence Battalion, 513th Military Intelligence Brigade, Fort Gordon, Ga., </i>
<i> Pfc. Genaro Bedoy, 20, of Amarillo, Texas, assigned to 52nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., and</i>
<i> Pfc. Jon R. Townsend, 19, Claremore, Okla., assigned to 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.</i>
Reports from the front lines indicate the men died after they were ambushed by Afghans either disguised as American troops or possibly as Afghan army regulars.