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Soldier with Tucson ties dies in Afghanistan

Citizen Staff Writer

FERNANDA ECHÁVARRI

fernanda@tucsoncitizen.com

and Wire Report

A soldier with ties to Tucson has been killed in Afghanistan.

The Department of Defense said Sunday that Master Sgt. David L. Hurt, 36, and a soldier from Illinois died from injuries caused by an improvised explosive device. They were in a military vehicle Friday near Khordi in Oruzgan province when the incident occurred.

Small arms fire followed during the attack by enemy forces.

Hurt and the other soldier, staff Sgt. Jeremy E. Bessa, 26, were assigned to 1st Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group in Fort Bragg, N.C.

Bessa died at the scene while Hurt died from his wounds after being evacuated to Kandahar Airfield for treatment, according to the U.S. Army.

Hurt, a native of Oak Park, Ill., moved to Tucson with his family at age 3, according to media reports.

He enlisted in Tucson in November 1992, according to the U.S. Army.

After basic and advanced training he was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, N.C., and later to the 20th Engineer Brigade. He earned his Green Beret in May 2000 and was assigned to the 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne).

Hurt lived in Grays Creek, N.C., before he left for Afghanistan in January on his fifth deployment.

His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Meritorious Service Medal, the Joint Commendation Medal, Master Parachutist Badge, Pathfinder Badge, the Valorous Unit Award and the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, according to his U.S. Army biography.

He is survived by his wife, Kelly, daughter, Avery, and son, Wyatt, who live in Grays Creek, N.C.; his mother, Bonnie Hurt of Hope Mills, N.C.; and father, Joe Hurt of Memphis, Tenn.

If you knew David Hurt in Tucson, please call City Editor Diane Luber at 573-4596.

Tucson soldier killed in Afghanistan

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