Soldier from Lake Havasu City killed in Afghanistan
A 24-year-old soldier from Lake Havasu City, Ariz., was killed Saturday in Afghanistan after enemy forces attacked his foot patrol with small-arms fire and a rocket-propelled grenade, U.S. military officials said Tuesday.
Army Staff Sgt. Carl Eric Hammar died at Forward Operating Base Sharana, where he had been flown by helicopter for treatment after the attack in Khost province in eastern Afghanistan, according to a news release from Alaska’s Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson.
He was assigned to an airborne unit at the joint base, the 1st Battalion, 501st Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team of the 25th Infantry Division.
Hammar had served two previous combat tours in Iraq, from January 2007 to March 2008 and from August 2009 to July 2010 during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
His 3,500-soldier brigade combat team deployed to Afghanistan in December.
Hammar, who was born in New York, joined the Army in December 2005 in Phoenix, Joint Base spokesman Chuck Canterbury said.
He said Hammar’s next of kin have been notified and a memorial service will be held at the base at a time and date to be announced.
Contact reporter Keith Rogers at
krogers@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0308.
