Published: June 19, 2007 11:00 pm         

Clinton soldier dies in attack Saturday in Afghanistan

Clinton — A Clinton man has died in American military operations in south-central Afghanistan.

Army Staff Sgt. Roy P. Lewsader Jr., 36, died from wounds he suffered when his vehicle was struck by a rocket-propelled grenade Saturday in Tarin Kowt, according to an Army media statement from Fort Riley, Kan., where Lewsader was based.

None of Lewsader’s family was available for comment on Wednesday; however, his father, Roy P. Lewsader Sr., confirmed his son attended school in Vermillion County.

Roy Lewsader is pictured in the 1987 and 1988 South Vermillion High School yearbooks. His name is listed in the 1989 South Vermillion yearbook; however, no picture is printed.

Lewsader entered the active Army in September 1993 and deployed overseas with the 1st Infantry Division transition team in January 2007.

This was Lewsader’s second deployment since the military action in Afghanistan and Iraq began, the Army media statement said.

The city of Tarin Kowt was the scene of a deadly suicide attack the day before the assault that killed Lewsader, according to the BBC.

That incident, in which an attacker drove a vehicle into a NATO convoy, killed one NATO soldier, six children and three civilians, the BBC reported.

The city and the surrounding area have seen other violent clashes since U.S. military operations began in Afghanistan, including a battle last June in which 65 Taliban fighters were killed, according to a U.S. military media statement issued at the time.

An initial statement from the U.S. Defense Department identified Lewsader’s hometown as Belleville, Ill. Lewsader’s wife called the military to say his hometown was Clinton, adding Lewsader had no contacts with Belleville.

The Army confirmed Lewsader’s “home of record” is Clinton on Tuesday and issued a written apology for any inconvenience the mistake may have caused.

As of Monday, at least 3,527 members of the U.S. military have died since March 2003 when the Iraq war began, according to the Associated Press.

As of Tuesday, 108 soldiers based at Fort Riley have been killed while serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, the Army’s media statement said.

Arthur Foulkes can be contacted at (812) 231-4232 or arthur.foulkes@tribstar.com.