Services pending for 19-year-old Arizonan who died while fighting in Afghanistan

KINGMAN, Ariz. — Services are being tentatively scheduled early next week for a sailor from northwest Arizona who died Friday in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.

The Department of Defense announced that Hospitalman Dustin Kelby Burnett, 19, of Fort Mohave was killed while conducting combat operations in Farah province.

Heather Ching, the head of a patriots organization that arranged a sendoff for Burnett about a week before he deployed in early April, said Burnett is survived by his parents and the 13-year-old brother who was his “best friend.”

Ching said the family has been informed that Burnett was fatally injured when an explosive device detonated under the military vehicle in which he was riding.

Ching said she vividly remembers remarks Burnett made when he was presented a key to the city by Bullhead City Mayor Jack Hakim.

“He said ‘I believe in this war and I want to fight to give others the freedoms that we have,’” Ching said. “There wasn’t a dry eye in the house.”

Burnett previously served the Colorado River Boys and Girls Club as a volunteer before he was hired as a part time staffer, Executive Director Brian Velarde said.

“He did a really good job working with the kids and he was one of the more outstanding teen volunteers we had,” Velarde said. “He was always real friendly and would go out of his way to say ‘hello.’ “

Ching said Burnett’s body is expected to arrive at the Laughlin-Bullhead International Airport sometime Friday. She said a patriot rider guard escort will lead a procession to a local mortuary.