Funeral Set For New City Soldier Killed In Afghanistan

WEST POINT, N.Y. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A funeral has been scheduled for an Army officer from West Point who was killed last week in Afghanistan.

Maj. Thomas Kennedy was originally from New City and graduated in 2000 from the U.S. Military Academy, where he'd also worked the past several years.

He had served two tours of duty in Iraq, but it was his first time to Afghanistan. His deployment there began on July 18.

"He was a great, great man. Great soldier, noble man," close family friend John Ryan said last week. "A leader of men."

He was one of four Americans killed along with an Afghan civilian in a suicide attack on Aug. 8. Also killed were USAID foreign service officer Ragaei Abdelfattah; Air Force Maj. Walter D. Gray, of Conyers, Ga.; and Command Sgt. Maj. Kevin J. Griffin, of Laramie, Wyo.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack.

Kennedy was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division based at Fort Carson.

Kennedy leaves behind a wife, Kami, and twin children, a son and a daughter, who will turn two at the end of August. A charity foundation has been set up and already has more than $10,000 in donations to help take care of his wife and children.

His funeral will be Friday at West Point.

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