HONOLULU (AP) - A Hawaii-based sailor has died in Afghanistan.
The Department of Defense announced Thursday that Petty Officer 3rd Class Anthony C. Garcia of Tyndall, Fla., died Wednesday while supporting combat operations in Farah Province.
The 21-year-old Garcia served as a corpsman with Marines assigned to Marine Corps Base Hawaii in Kaneohe.
Garcia joined the Navy in 2006 and reported to Hawaii in February. His awards include the Purple Heart Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Afghanistan Campaign Medal and Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.
About 1,000 Hawaii Marines with the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment arrived in Helmand and Farah provinces in late May. They are part of a surge of 21,000 U.S. troops sent by President Obama.
