U.S. Army confirms Monroe native killed in firefight

Pfc. Eric W. Hario

MONROE The U.S. Army has confirmed that Monroe native Pfc. Eric W. Hario was killed Friday in a firefight in a rugged, mountainous area of Afghanistan.

Mr. Hario, 19, who was a 2008 Monroe High School graduate, died in an attack during combat operations in Paktika Province.

He was medically evacuated to a combat support hospital, where he later died, according to army officials.

Mr. Hario, who was on his first deployment to Afghanistan, was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, which is based at Hunter Army Airfield, Ga..

A second soldier in the same regiment, Staff Sgt. Jason Dahlke, 29, of Orlando, Fla., died that day during the same firefight.