Malloy Orders Flags to Half-Staff to Honor CT Soldier Killed In Afghanistan

This information is from Gov. Dannel P. Malloy's office: 

Governor Dannel P. Malloy today ordered U.S. and Connecticut flags to fly at half-staff to honor Army Captain Andrew M. Pedersen-Keel who was killed in action while serving in Afghanistan.

“Captain Pedersen-Keel made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our state and our nation," said Governor Malloy. "Our thoughts are with his family, his friends, and his unit during this very difficult time. We pray for a safe homecoming for our troops who are stationed around the world, and thank them for their bravery and service.”

“This is a tragic and sad reminder that even as the conflict in Afghanistan is winding down there are still hundreds of Connecticut soldiers in harm’s way,” said Lieutenant Governor Nancy Wyman. “Captain Pedersen-Keel and every one of the other 63 brave men and women from our state lost in Afghanistan and Iraq died defending us and our freedom, and that sacrifice must never be forgotten.”

Capt. Pedersen-Keel, 28, was a member of Company B, 1st Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group out of Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He was killed by a member of the Afghan National Police while conducting a patrol brief in the Jalrez District.

Flags will remain at half-staff until burial or memorial, information for which is forthcoming.

Here are some stories about the attack March 11: 

From Reuters: 

Two American soldiers were killed in a so-called insider attack when a person in an Afghan military uniform turned his weapon on U.S. and Afghan forces at a joint base in the restive east of the country, coalition forces said on Monday. Three policemen and two Afghan army officers were also killed in the attack, said a senior police official. The attack took place as a deadline expired for U.S. special forces to quit the eastern province of Wardak, after Afghan President Hamid Karzai accused them and Afghans working for them of overseeing torture and killings in the area. An Afghan interior ministry official said the attack occurred in Jalriz district of Wardak.

From Huffington Post: 

U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, who left Afghanistan early on Monday after a three-day visit, raised the sensitive issue of Wardak when he met Karzai. U.S. forces have denied involvement in any abuses in Wardak. Hagel sounded hopeful that a deal could be reached on their continued deployment, but acknowledged no breakthroughs were made in his talks with Karzai. Afghans are divided over their expulsion, saying the departure of the U.S. special forces could leave a vacuum for insurgents to fill, which would pose a security risk for nearby Kabul.

From PBS.

From the Mercury News.