U.S. soldier dies in firefight

Associated Press

BAGRAM, Afghanistan — A U.S. special forces soldier was killed while on patrol in eastern Afghanistan on Sunday when his unit came under heavy fire, a U.S. military spokesman said.

There were no other reports of coalition casualties in the firefight, which started when suspected al-Qaida or Taliban forces engaged U.S. forces with at least small arms fire late Sunday afternoon, said Capt. Steven O’Connor, a U.S. military spokesman at Bagram air base.

Sgt. Gene Arden Vance Jr., 38, of Morgantown, W.Va., was in the 19th Special Forces Unit of the West Virginia National Guard.

It was unclear whether there were any casualties on the opposing side.

Small teams of U.S. special forces and other coalition soldiers are operating throughout eastern Afghanistan, conducting search operations for Taliban and al-Qaida members.

Sunday’s casualty brings to 22 the total number of American military killed in action since the start of Operation Enduring Freedom last fall.

In related developments:

  • About 50 Green Beret trainers from Fort Carson, Colo., landed in Tbilisi, Georgia, on Sunday, adding the ex-Soviet republic to the list of countries where U.S. troops have deployed in the 8-month-old counterterror campaign. The Pentagon has said the training will help the Georgian army "address the situation in the Pankisi Gorge," a lawless area of northeast Georgia where U.S. officials say terrorists linked to al-Qaida may be sheltered among Muslim guerrillas and refugees from across the border in the separatist-minded Russian region of Chechnya.

  • A British newspaper said Sunday it had obtained a previously unseen video of Osama bin Laden in which the Saudi-born dissident says that any country siding with Israel is a target for Islamic terrorists. The Sunday (London) Times newspaper said that unidentified supporters of the al-Qaida leader claimed sections of the 40-minute video were filmed eight weeks ago. The newspaper said, however, that the video did not provide enough clues for it to be dated.

  • Security at New York City water facilities fails to meet federal and state guidelines, making them potentially vulnerable to biological or chemical attacks, according to a report released Sunday by the New York State Assembly Committee on Oversight, Analysis and Investigation. It found that security at the facilities failed more than half of the federal Environmental Protection Agency and state Department of Health guidelines.

    Copyright ©2002 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

    Talk to us

    > Give us your news tips.

    > Send us a letter to the editor.

    > More Herald contact information.

  • More in Local News

    Customers enter and exit the Costco on Dec. 2, 2022, in Lake Stevens. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
    Costco stores could be impacted by looming truck driver strike threat

    Truck drivers who deliver groceries and produce to Costco warehouses… Continue reading

    Two Washington State ferries pass along the route between Mukilteo and Clinton as scuba divers swim near the shore Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
    Ferry system increases ridership by a half million in 2024

    Edmonds-Kingston route remains second-busiest route in the system.

    Fernando Espinoza salts the sidewalk along Fifth Avenue South on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
    Think this is cold, Snohomish County? Wait until Tuesday

    Tuesday could bring dangerous wind chill during the day and an overnight low of 19 degrees

    The Washington State Department of Licensing office is seen in 2018 in Seattle. (Sue Misao / The Herald)
    Drivers licensing offices to close Feb. 14-17

    Online services are also not available Feb. 10-17. The Washington State Department of Licensing said the move is necessary to upgrade software.

    Pharmacist Nisha Mathew prepares a Pfizer COVID booster shot for a patient at Bartell Drugs on Broadway on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
    Everett lawmakers back universal health care bill, introduced in Olympia

    Proponents say providing health care for all is a “fundamental human right.” Opponents worry about the cost of implementing it.

    Robin Cain with 50 of her marathon medals hanging on a display board she made with her father on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
    Running a marathon is hard. She ran one in every state.

    Robin Cain, of Lake Stevens, is one of only a few thousand people to ever achieve the feat.

    People line up to grab food at the Everett Recovery Cafe on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
    Coffee, meals and compassion are free at the Everett Recovery Cafe

    The free, membership-based day center offers free coffee and meals and more importantly, camaraderie and recovery support.

    Devani Padron, left, Daisy Ramos perform during dance class at Mari's Place Monday afternoon in Everett on July 13, 2016. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
    Mari’s Place helps children build confidence and design a better future

    The Everett-based nonprofit offers free and low-cost classes in art, music, theater and dance for children ages 5 to 14.

    The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River on Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
    Everett water, sewer rates could jump 43% by 2028

    The rate hikes would pay for improvements to the city’s sewer infrastructure.

    The bond funded new track and field at Northshore Middle School on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 in Bothell, Washington. (Courtesy of Northshore School District)
    Northshore School District bond improvements underway

    The $425 million bond is funding new track and field complexes, playgrounds and phase one of two school replacements.

    Outside of the updated section of Lake Stevens High School on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020 in Lake Stevens, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
    Lake Stevens, Arlington school measures on Feb. 11 ballot

    A bond in Lake Stevens and a levy in Arlington would be used to build new schools.

    Lake Stevens Sewer District wastewater treatment plant. (Lake Stevens Sewer District)
    Lake Stevens sewer district trial delayed until April

    The dispute began in 2021 and centers around when the city can take over the district.

    Support local journalism

    If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.