A Georgia soldier was one of five men killed in what appears to be a friendly fire airstrike in Afghanistan last week..
The Department of Defense announced late Saturday night Staff Sgt. Jason McDonald, 28, of Butler, was killed Monday in Gaza Village, Afghanistan from wounds he obtained in a combat operation. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 5th Special Forces Group, Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
Various news organizations reported the soldiers were part of a group of U.S. and Afghan troops who reportedly came under fire and called in an airstrike for support. A friendly helicopter is said to have fired on the troops resulting in the deaths of five U.S. soldiers.
The cause behind the supposed friendly fire strike has not yet been determined and the incident is under investigation.
Along with McDonald, Staff Sgt. Scott Studenmund, 24, of Pasadena, California, Spc. Justin Helton, 25, of Beaver, Ohio, Cpl. Justin Clouse, 22, of Sprague Washington and Pvt. 2nd Class Aaron Toppen, 19, of Mokena, Illinois were also killed.
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