Massachusetts Soldier Killed in Afghanistan

Neighbors in the Whitinsville section of Northbridge, Massachusetts, are honoring a young man they saw grow up there, with a flag at half-staff and a yellow ribbon on a utility pole.

"Everybody seems to know that there was still battles going on, people fighting for us, but to have it actually land in your neighborhood - kind of punch to the gut," said neighbor Steven Falconer. "It kind of brings everything back home."

Falconer placed the ribbon as soon as word spread that a local boy, 22-year-old Army Specialist John Dawson, had been killed in Afghanistan.

"I just want to do something," he said.

The Department of Defense says an Afghan soldier opened fire on several American soldiers Wednesday after local Afghani leaders had met with U.S. embassy officials.

Dawson, who graduated from Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School, according to family friends, was based at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

He joined the Army in 2012 and served as a combat medic.

Neighbors are stunned by the loss and grateful for his service. Dawson had already earned several awards from the military.

"I am proud to have lived next door to anybody [in the military]," said Lurana Ellis. "I'm proud of the military, I'm proud of the armed forces."

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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