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Snyder Orders Flags Lowered For Combat Engineer

FLINT (AP) - Gov. Rick Snyder has ordered the lowering of U.S. flags in Michigan on Tuesday in honor of Army Sgt. Joseph M. Lilly, who died after being wounded in an insurgent attack in Afghanistan.

The Defense Department says the 25-year-old combat engineer from Flint was injured June 12 by an improvised explosive device in Kandahar province and died two days later.

Snyder said in a statement Friday that Lilly "was a brave and courageous young man."

Lilly was a 2005 Carman-Ainsworth High School graduate. As a soldier, he also served in Iraq. He is survived by wife Katrina and their son Alexander, 3.

Another member of his unit from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., also was killed.

MORE: Aunt Says Fallen Mich Soldier Loved US Army

(© Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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