TRENTON, N.J. (AP/CBS 2) — A U.S. Army soldier from New Jersey has been killed in Afghanistan.

The Defense Department said Thursday that Sgt. Michael D. Kirspel Jr. died Wednesday from wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using an improvised explosive device.

The 23-year-old soldier from Hopatcong was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 6th Field Artillery (Strike), 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, based at Fort Drum, N.Y.

Kirspel was a 2006 graduate of Hopatcong High School.

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