Soldier From Maryland Dies In Afghanistan

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- The Department of Defense has identified a soldier who died in Afghanistan on Saturday as a 37-year-old Maryland man.

Staff Sgt. Mark R. De Alencar, of Edgewood, Maryland, died supporting Operation Freedom's Sentinel.

He died on April 8 in Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan. De Alencar died of injuries he received when his "unit came in contact with enemy forces using small arms fire during combat operations," according to a DOD release.

De Alencar was assigned to 1st Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne), Eglin Air Force Base, Florida.

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