Soldier from Colorado Springs killed in Afghanistan

The Department of Defense says that one of three soldiers killed in action in Afghanistan Tuesday was originally from Colorado Springs.

Spc. Rob L. Nichols, 24, was killed in an IED attack along with 1st Lt. Jonam Russell, 25, of Cornville, Ariz., and Sgt. Stefan M. Smith, 24, of Glennville, Ga.

An infantryman, Spc. Nichols joined the Army in Sept. 2010 and arrived at the unit in Jan. 2011. This was his first deployment.

All three soldiers were assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga.