A soldier killed Friday in Afghanistan belonged to an infantry battalion based in Italy, according to the Department of Defense.

Pfc. Theodore M. Glende, 23, of Rochester, N.Y., died from wounds he received when his unit was attacked with small-arms fire in Kharwar, Logar province, according to a department release. Glende was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, which is based in Italy as part of the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team.

The 173rd cased its colors in mid-June for a nine-month deployment to Logar and Wardak provinces. The 173rd is based in Vicenza, Italy, and commands subordinate units in both Italy and Germany.

Glende's death marks the brigade's fourth within a week and the battalion's third.

Spc. Justin L. Horsley, 21, of Palm Bay, Fla., and Pfc. Brenden N. Salazar, 20, of Chuluota, Fla., both of the 1-503, were killed July 22 in Pul-E Alam, the capital of Logar province, when enemy forces attacked their unit with an improvised explosive device, according to the Department of Defense.

Pfc. Adam C. Ross, 19, of Lyman, S.C., of the 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, was killed by small arms fire in an attack two days later in Wardak province, according to a department news release.

Migrated