Utah soldier killed in Afghanistan

Utah National Guard 2nd Lt. Scott B. Lundell, 35, was killed Saturday in Afghanistan in action, Guard officials said Tuesday.

Lundell was described as an "upbeat, gung ho soldier" by Guard officials.

The West Valley City resident deployed to Afghanistan in June with the 1st Corps Artillery, which helps train and support the Afghan National Army.

National Guard officials were not releasing detailed information on how Lundell died or about his family, other than that he has a wife and children.

Family members had been notified by Tuesday, but were not ready to comment on Lundell's death. Lundell's body is on its way back to the United States, and funeral arrangements are pending.

Since 2003, two other Utah soldiers have died in Afghanistan. Utah National Guard Staff Sgt. Alan L. Rogers, of Kearns, died in September 2004, and Army Chief Warrant Officer John D. Smith, of West Valley City, died in February 2003. Out of 509 coalition fatalities in Afghanistan since 2001, at least 350 of the dead were U.S. troops, according to the Web site www.icasualties.org.

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E-mail: sspeckman@desnews.com