Soldier from Oceanside dies in Afghanistan; investigation underway
A soldier from Oceanside has died in Afghanistan in a “noncombat incident,” the Department of Defense announced.
Chief Warrant Deric Michael Rasmussen, 33, died Sunday in Mazar-e Sharif. No details of the death were announced except that it is under investigation.
Rasmussen served in the U.S. Marine Corps before joining the Army.
In Afghanistan, he was assigned to Company C, 2nd Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade from Ft. Hood, Texas.
Rasmussen served in Iraq in 2007 and deployed to Afghanistan in January.
Among his awards and decorations are a Navy Commendation Medal, two Army Achievement Medals and an Army Aviator Badge.
While in the Marine Corps, Rasmussen served in a cryptologic support battalion and was named junior service member of the year at Ft. Meade, Md., in 2004.
“I have a pretty strong work ethic,” he told the base newspaper after receiving the award. “It just comes natural.”
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