Bragg soldier killed in Afghanistan
A Special Operations soldier was killed Wednesday during a combat operation in Afghanistan, the Department of Defense announced Friday.
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Master Sgt. Jared N. Van Aalst, 34, was killed in Konduz Province. He was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, U.S. Army Special Operations Command at Fort Bragg.
Van Aalst was born in Laconia, N.H., and enlisted in the Army as a signal support systems specialist in August 1995.
He served with the 75th Ranger Regiment at Fort Benning, Ga., and was chief instructor to Company C, 2nd Battalion, 29th Infantry at Fort Benning before being assigned to Special Operations Command at Fort Bragg in 2008.
He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart and the Defense Meritorious Service Medal.
Van Aalst is survived by his wife, Katie Van Aalst of Pinehurst; daughters Kaylie and Ava; and his parents, Neville and Nancy Van Aalst of Hawthorne, Fla.
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