Jun 26, 2008 12:34 am US/Pacific
Roadside Bomb Kills N. Bay Soldier In Afghanistan
SANTA ROSA (CBS 5 / AP) ―
A 24-year-old soldier from Santa Rosa died on Tuesday in Afghanistan of wounds he suffered when his vehicle struck a roadside bomb, the U.S. Department of Defense said.
Army Spc. Ryan Connolly, died in Khogyani, Afghanistan, near the Pakistani border, just two weeks before he was scheduled to come home, his family said.
Connolly was riding in a vehicle with four other troops when the bomb hit. One other soldier also died.
"He was a patriot. Strong guy. Funny. Just one of the best men you'd ever meet," said Bob Nelson, Connolly's stepfather.
Connolly was married to Stephi Connolly and the couple had a 1-year-old daughter, Kayla.
(© 2008 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
