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Cousin: Ohio Soldier Is 1 Of 5 Killed In Afghanistan
By: Associated Press
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A cousin says a 25-year-old soldier from southern Ohio was one of five American troops killed this week during an airstrike in southern Afghanistan.
Mindy Helton says military representatives visited Justin Helton's parents' home in Beaver early Tuesday to inform them of his death.
A Pentagon spokesman says five troops were killed Monday during "a security operation" and the likelihood that friendly fire caused their deaths is under investigation.
Mindy Helton is Justin Helton's cousin by marriage. She says his immediate family isn't commenting publicly.
She says the soldier specialized in dealing with explosives and was based out of Fort Bragg, North Carolina. She says he had been in Afghanistan about two months and was engaged to be married.
She says he had been in the Army since 2010.