Richfield H.S. Grad Killed In Afghanistan

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Gov. Mark Dayton has ordered flags flown at half-staff Wednesday for a Richfield High School graduate who was killed in Afghanistan.

Army Spec. Kedith L. Jacobs was 21 years old and a 2008 graduate of Richfield. He enlisted in 2010, and was stationed at Fort Bliss, Texas. The Defense Department lists Denver as his hometown. He was killed May 27 in an attack on his unit. He earned the Purple Heart and Bronze Star, among other awards. He's is survived by his wife, Phyllis Jacobs and 2-year-old daughter, Alora.

The governor has ordered all U.S. flags and Minnesota flags to be flown at half-staff at all state and federal buildings in Minnesota from sunrise until sunset Wednesday, the day he'll be interred at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in Texas.

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As of Tuesday, June 19, 2012, at least 1,883 members of the U.S. military had died in Afghanistan as a result of the U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan in late 2001, according to an Associated Press count.

The AP count is four less than the Defense Department's tally.

At least 1,566 military service members have died in Afghanistan as a result of hostile action, according to the military's numbers.

Outside of Afghanistan, the department reports at least 114 more members of the U.S. military died in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Of those, 12 were the result of hostile action.

The AP count of total OEF casualties outside of Afghanistan is one more than the department's tally.

The Defense Department also counts three military civilian deaths.

Since the start of U.S. military operations in Afghanistan, 16,368 U.S. service members have been wounded in hostile action, according to the Defense Department.

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