ROCHESTER HILLS, Mich. – A 25-year-old Michigan Army National Guard soldier from suburban Detroit has been killed and four others from the state have been injured during combat operations in Afghanistan.
The Defense Department says Spc. Kyle McClain of Shelby Township was instantly killed Wednesday when an improvised explosive device detonated near Salim Aka, Afghanistan.
McClain is the 21st Michigan National Guardsman killed in action since 2003.
Four other members of the Augusta, Mich.-based 1433rd Engineer Company were "seriously injured" while on the same foot patrol.
"The injured Soldiers were transported from the incident site to military medical facilities at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan for treatment," said Capt. Aaron Jenkins, State Public Affairs Officer, Michigan National Guard.
The injured include 29-year-old Staff Sgt. Robert Drebenstedt of Charlevoix, 24-year-old Spec. William Barnett of Ypsilanti, Spec. 26-year-old Steven Nelson of Dollar Bay and 20-year-old Pvt. Joshua Colon of Grand Rapids.
-Spec. William Barnett of Ypsilanti, Michigan.-
Ninety members of the 1433rd Engineer Company were deployed in May 2012 to Afghanistan for a one year mobilization.