Boston Native Killed In Combat In Afghanistan

A U.S. Army sergeant who was a Boston native has been killed in Afghanistan.

On Wednesday, the Pentagon said 39-year-old Sgt. 1st Class Eric Michael Emond was one of three American servicemen killed in a roadside bombing Tuesday.

Emond was a Boston native who leaves behind a wife and three children, Lt. Col. Loren Bymer, an Army spokesperson, said in a statement.

Emond had more than 21 years of military service and was on his seventh overseas tour. He's been awarded the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart, among many decorations.

Massachusetts U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton, a veteran himself, said Emond also helped start a nonprofit, Massachusetts Fallen Heroes, that aids vets and Gold Star families.

Emond had been living in Brush Prairie, Washington. He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group.

He was killed alongside Army Capt. Andrew Patrick Ross, age 29, of Lexington, Virginia; and Air Force Staff Sgt. Dylan J. Elchin, age 25, of Hookstown, Pennsylvania.

They were killed in Ghazni province, an area where the Taliban is resurgent. It was the deadliest attack against U.S. forces in Afghanistan this year.

The U.S. and NATO formally concluded their combat mission in Afghanistan in 2014, but still provide close support to Afghan forces and carry out counterterrorism operations.

Some 15,000 American forces are currently serving in Afghanistan.

The New York Times reports that so far in 2018, 12 American soldiers have died in combat in Afghanistan.

With reporting by WBUR's Ben Swasey and The Associated Press