KEARNS — In his 20 years of National Guard service, Staff Sgt. Alan L. Rogers was "a very caring individual," always putting safety and family first, a friend and fellow Guardsman remembered Friday.

Rogers, 49, of Kearns died Wednesday in Bagram, Afghanistan, of noncombat related injuries, according to the Department of Defense. Rogers was a full-time National Guardsman with the National Guard 1st Battalion, 1-211th Aviation Battalion based in West Jordan.

"He was a very good man, he was a very good friend," said Master Sgt. Mike Mellenthin, 54, a senior supply sergeant at Camp Williams and neighbor to Rogers.

"His push was always to make it better, always to make it easier," Mellenthin said. "He wanted to make sure the younger guys were trained for the best."

Lt. Col. Brad Blackner said Rogers is the first overseas casualty for the Utah National Guard. Eight Utah soldiers have been killed in the Iraqi conflict.

"This is an enormous loss for the Utah National Guard," Maj. Gen. Brian Tarbet, adjutant general, said in a statement. "We're a family and we've just lost a family member. It's been a tough day."

Rogers was one of about 350 soldiers deployed in April to Afghanistan, after an initial call-up to Fort Carson, Colo., in January, Blackner said.

Rogers' death was under investigation, and no other information was available, Blackner said.

Rogers' served as an ammunition specialist in Afghanistan, and his civilian job at home was as an aircraft refueler, said Maj. Lorraine Januzelli.

Rogers was married and had family in the area, but no other information was available, Januzelli said.

Rogers' family members, who declined to comment, asked for privacy in a statement sent Friday night.

"Al was a good husband and father. He loved the military, his country and his family," the family said in the statement. "This was his second deployment. He volunteered for the first deployment to Kuwait. Please respect him and let us grieve in privacy."

Neighbors remembered Rogers as quiet, friendly and a good person.

"It's bitter," Mellenthin said, shaking his head. "This is going to be a tough thing to go through. I'm heartbroken for Patty and the kids. . . . I'm going to miss Alan."

During Rogers' last deployment, "he missed his family terribly," Mellenthin said. "He doted on his grandchildren; that was really cool. They could do no wrong."

Mellenthin remembers his son growing up with Rogers' son. He remembers conversations on the porch with Rogers, sharing beers, philosophizing or just talking football.

"His son's team was the 49ers, but Alan just seemed to like football, just as long as it was a good game," Mellenthin said.

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E-mail: dbulkeley@desnews.com