Fort Carson Soldier killed in Afghanistan incident

The U.S. Defense Department says an army sergeant from southern Illinois has died in noncombat related incident in Afghanistan.

The Pentagon announced Sunday that 36-year-old Staff Sgt. Christopher A. Wilbur of Granite City died Friday in Kandahar. The exact cause of Wilbur’s death wasn’t revealed.

According to the Pentagon, Wilbur was involved in operations connected with tamping down terrorist activity in Afghanistan dubbed Operation Freedom’s Sentinel, which was launched in 2015.

Wilbur was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division in Fort Carson, Colorado.

Fort Carson officials released the following statement:

“It is always hard to lose a part of our military family. Our thoughts and prayers are with Staff Sgt. Christopher Wilbur’s family and friends during this very difficult time.”