A 59-year-old U.S. veteran of the Vietnam war has been killed in Afghanistan, becoming the oldest American service member killed in that country since the beginning of Operation Enduring Freedom.
The Pentagon announced Friday that Army First Sergeant Jose Crisostomo was killed Tuesday when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle.
Crisostomo was assigned to the International Security Assistance Force in Kabul.
He joined the U.S. Army in 1969 and received the Bronze Star, a medal awarded to U.S. troops for combat valor.
Crisostomo volunteered to return to duty in Afghanistan.
He would have celebrated his 60th birthday later this month.