Raeford National Guard Female Killed in Afghanistan

The Department of Defense announced the death of three soldiers on Wednesday who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. 

The three soldiers died Oct.1, in Khost, Afghanistan, of injuries suffered when an insurgent detonated a suicide vest while they were on dismounted patrol. The soldiers were assigned to the 514th Military Police Company, 60th Troop Command, Winterville, N.C. 

            Killed were: 

            Sgt. Thomas J. Butler IV, 25, of Wilmington, N.C.; 

            Sgt. Jeremy F. Hardison, 23, of Maysville, N.C. and

            Sgt. Donna R. Johnson, 29, of Raeford, N.C.

The North Carolina National Guard posted on its Facebook page that there had been an incident involving its troops in Afghanistan and that affected families had been notified. However, state guard spokesman Lt. Col. Robert Carver said Tuesday he could not comment further or confirm those identified earlier were guardsmen according to an ABC news report.