Soldier From Rhode Island Dies in Afghanistan

An Army Green Beret from Rhode Island has been killed in Afghanistan just a month after he was honored at the Fourth of July parade in his hometown of Bristol.

The Pentagon said Sunday that 35-year-old Master Sgt. Peter Andrew McKenna Jr. died Saturday in Kabul after he was attacked by enemy small arms fire.

Rhode Island U.S. Sen. Jack Reed, who announced McKenna's death Saturday night, had joined state Rep. Raymond Gallison at the parade to present McKenna with a U.S. flag flown over the Capitol.

On Saturday, Reed called McKenna "an extraordinary young man with a big heart and a dedicated, distinguished soldier."

Gov. Gina Raimondo ordered flags flown at half-staff beginning Tuesday through his funeral services.

McKenna was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida.