NILES (AP) – The Department of Defense says a 23-year-old sailor from Niles has been killed in Afghanistan. The Pentagon announced Friday that Seaman Benjamin Rast died Wednesday while on patrol in Helmand province.

Rast was assigned as a hospitalman to the 1st Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division. He was stationed at the Naval Medical Center, Expeditionary Medical Force Detachment in San Diego.

The Pentagon says the incident is under investigation. 

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