Fort Carson soldier dies in combat in Afghanistan

A Fort Carson soldier was killed May 1 in an attack on his unit in Afghanistan, the Defense Department said today.

Spc. Eric M. Finniginam, 26, of Colonia, Federated States of Micronesia, died at Forward Operating Base Blessing in eastern Kunar province when insurgents attacked the base with indirect fire, a phrase generally used to describe mortars or rocket-propelled grenades.

He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division.

Finniginam joined the Army in 2008 and left for his first deployment last June, his service record shows. He received the Army Commendation Medal for valor and the Army Achievement Medal, among other awards.

Finniginam is 50^th soldier from Fort Carson to die in Afghanistan. An additional 256 have died in Iraq.

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