BROWNWOOD, Mo. -- A roadside bomb was responsible for the death of a soldier with local ties this week in Afghanistan.
U.S. Army soldier James Burnett Jr., with family in northern Stoddard County, died when his vehicle was struck by a roadside bomb Wednesday in the Kandahar Province of Afghanistan.
His father, James Burnett Sr., and stepmother, Cheri Burnett, were told of their son's death Wednesday night when a pair of uniformed soldiers, one a chaplain, approached their door in Brownwood.
James Burnett Jr.'s mother, Rebecca Metcalf, lives in Wichita, Kan., and that is likely where he will be buried. He had split his time between Wichita and Brownwood since his parents divorced several years ago, having spent most of his time after age 12 in Wichita.
The family was told their son was in an Army Jeep at the head of a convoy in Kandahar Province when the vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device. It is not known if any other soldiers were killed in the blast.
James Burnett Jr. turned 21 in September. He enlisted in the Army before high school graduation while still 17, completing basic training and boot camp before his high school graduation. He completed further training in Alaska before his deployment to Afghanistan in April.
During a two-week leave in July, Burnett spent one week in Brownwood and the other in Wichita, during which time he became engaged to Amy Keeler, of Wichita.
"When he went back to Afghanistan [after his July leave], it was good reports, good reports, until about six weeks ago," Cheri Burnett said. "Then it was, 'I'm in a bad place. I'm scared. Pray for me.'"
Burnett is survived by his father and stepmother; his mother and stepfather, John Rogers, of Wichita; his grandparents, Neil and Sally Rogers of Chaffee, Mo.; and by eight siblings.
He was flown to Dover, Del., on Thursday. Funeral arrangements have yet to be announced.
Pertinent address:
Brownwood, MO
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