The death of Marine Cpl. Jacob C. Leicht from Texas brings the death toll of American servicemen killed in Afghanistan to 1000 as of Saturday.
Leicht, 24, was born on the Fourth of July, and was serving his second tour of duty overseas when he was killed in a bomb blast.
He first served in 2007, but was only there for a few weeks when his Humvee drove over an explosive, breaking his leg.
It is a sad milestone this Memorial Day weekend and yet another reminder of the loss of life in the Afghanistan war. The 1000th soldier to die was reported by the AP and based on Defense Department reports of deaths suffered as a direct result of the Afghan conflict, including personnel assigned to units in Afghanistan, Pakistan or Uzbekistan.
Locally, a Pawtucket high school football field was dedicated on Friday to a fallen Marine who played there. US Senator Sheldon Whitehouse and about 150 others came out on Friday to dedicate dedicate the Tolman High School field to Pfc. Kyle Coutu. A 2009 graduate and football captain, Cuoto was killed in Afghanistan in February.
The City of Pawtucket declared Friday U.S. Marine Pfc. Kyle Coutu Day.
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