APPLETON, Wis. (AP) — The Defense Department says an Appleton soldier has been killed after his unit was attack in Afghanistan.

Army Sgt. Matthew D. Hermanson died Thursday from wounds he suffered when his unit of the 2nd Battalion, 10th Mountain Division took on small arms fire in the Wardak province in the east-central portion of the country.

The 22-year-old Hermanson graduated from Appleton North High School in 2006. He was deployed in November.

Appleton North Principal James Huggins tells the The Post-Crescent of Appleton it’s tragically sad any time a local service member is killed.

Gov. Scott Walker said in a statement that the state is enormously grateful for Hermanson’s service and that the family is in his prayers during this time of grief.

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