Soldier Dies of Wounds
An American soldier has died of wounds received two weeks ago while hunting for Taliban and Al Qaeda fighters in Afghanistan, the Pentagon said Monday.
Sgt. 1st Class Christopher James Speer, 28, of Albuquerque, N.M., was among five U.S. soldiers injured in an ambush July 27 in eastern Afghanistan. He died Wednesday, a Department of Defense statement said. Speer was assigned to Headquarters U.S. Army Special Operations Command at Ft. Bragg, N.C.
About 50 U.S. soldiers and allied Afghan militiamen were trying to confirm intelligence about an enemy operative in the area when they came under small-arms fire, commanders said at the time. Special Forces and conventional troops were flown to the fight after the ambush, putting a total of about 100 troops on the ground.
Two allied Afghan militiamen were killed in the 4 1/2-hour gun battle.
Speer had been evacuated to Germany for medical care.
At least three of those who opened fire on the U.S. and Afghan troops from a mud-brick compound also were killed, officials said.
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