Funeral set for NJ soldier killed in Afghanistan

HOPATCONG, N.J. (AP) -- A funeral will be held Saturday for a New Jersey soldier killed in combat in Afghanistan.
Army Sgt. Michael Kirspel Jr. of Hopatcong was killed Oct. 27 by an improvised explosive device.

The 23-year-old soldier will be buried at St. Mary's Cemetery in Dover following a 10 a.m. funeral service at the Bermingham Funeral Home in Wharton.

The Daily Record of Parsippany reports that Kirspel expected to be discharged from the Army in March.

Kirspel joined the military shortly after graduating from Hopatcong High School in 2006. He previously served a 13-month tour in Iraq.

He most recently was assigned to the 10th Mountain Division, based at Fort Drum, N.Y.

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