A United States Army Sgt. who graduated from Durfee High School in Fall River has been identified as one of three soldiers killed in Afghanistan on Tuesday.

According to the Department of Defense, Sgt. 1st Class Eric M. Emond, 39, died of injuries sustained when a vehicle he was riding in with two other service members was struck by an improvised explosive device.

Also killed were Army Captain Andrew Ross, 29, of Lexington, Virginia, and Air Force Staff Sgt. Dylan J. Elchin of Hookstown, PA. The soldiers were assigned to 1st Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Emond graduated from Durfee High School in 1998. He co-founded Massachusetts Fallen Heroes, a non-profit organization that helps military veterans and gold star families. Emond's current address is listed as Brush Prairie, Washington. He is survived by his wife and three children.

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