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Soldier With Michigan Ties Dies In Afghanistan

MUSKEGON (AP) - A 21-year-old soldier whose wife is from West Michigan has been killed in an attack in Afghanistan.

The Defense Department announced Monday that Spc. Vilmar Galarza Hernandez, of Salinas, Calif., died Saturday in Kandahar province when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.

MLive.com and WOOD-TV report his wife is from Muskegon.

U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga of Zeeland on Monday issued a statement saying his heart goes out to family of Hernandez in Muskegon and California.

Hernandez was assigned to the 4th Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment of the 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team of the 2nd Infantry Division at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state.

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 This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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