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Minnesota Marine Killed In Afghanistan

GREENFIELD, Minn. (WCCO/AP) — A Minnesota Marine has died in Afghanistan.

The Defense Department says 21-year-old Lance Cpl. Robert Greniger of Greenfield died Tuesday while conducting combat operations in Helmand Province.   His family attends Village Church in Maple Plain, and it says he died when an explosive device detonated.

Greniger was assigned to the 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force at Camp Lejeune, N.C.

He graduated from Rockford High School in 2009.  He joined the Marines after graduating and was deployed last March.

His mother, Teresa, told the "Associated Press" that her son was "very proud" to be a Marine and wanted to serve in Afghanistan.  She said he switched units so he could be there.

Nick Jacobs, Greniger's Guidance Counselor in High School, says he was reserved yet respectful of others.  Jacobs recalled Greniger's drive to be a Marine.

"You know, I think he knew what he wanted after high school, and you know, it was the military.  I think he wanted to do good things for our country," said Jacobs.

Greniger's father, Kurt, told us that his wife, Teresa, is in Dover, Delaware, right now, at the Marine Base.  He said she is witnessing the casket transfer to the prepping area for transfer to Minneapolis.

Greniger's church said that military honors and the funeral will be held at the Rockford High School Community Center, but no date has been set.

Greniger is the second Minnesota Marine killed in Afghanistan in the last two weeks.

Twenty-seven-year-old Sgt. Chad Frokjer of Maplewood died June 30, also in Helmand Province, after he stepped on an improvised explosive device while on patrol.

(TM and © Copyright 2011 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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