Funeral Held For Newark Soldier Killed In Afghanistan

NEWARK, NJ (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Hundreds of police and soldiers gathered at Newark's Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart on Friday to honor a New Jersey National Guardsman killed in Afghanistan.

Staff Sgt. Jorge Oliveira was killed by an improvised explosive during an attack near the Afghan-Pakistan border on October 19. He was 33-years-old.

Oliveira, a native of Portugal and Newark resident, was also an officer with the Essex County Sheriff's Department in New Jersey.

Oliveira joined the National Guard in 2003.

He was assigned to the Security Forces Platoon of the 2nd Battalion, 113th Infantry Regiment, which deployed in June. He was on his third tour in Afghanistan and was planning to come home in March.

Gov. Chris Christie called the fallen solider "an American patriot committed to the great virtues and principles of our country.''

Oliveira lived in Newark's Ironbound section with his parents and brother.

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