RI National Guard Soldier From NJ Killed In Afghanistan

The Rhode Island National Guard says one of its Special Forces soldiers from New Jersey has died in combat in Afghanistan.

Officials say 30-year-old Staff Sgt. Timothy Raymond McGill of Ramsey died Saturday from wounds received by small arms fire in eastern Afghanistan. It is not known if he was one of three U.S troops shot by an Afghan in a security forces uniform.

He was the 152nd servicemember with ties to New Jersey to die in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan according to the Star Ledger and the sixth member of the Rhode Island National Guard to die in the middle east since 9/11/01.

McGill initially served as a Marine after joining the military in August 2001. He was deployed to Iraq with the Marines in 2005. He joined the Rhode Island National Guard in 2008 and qualified as an elite Special Forces soldier in 2005.

His awards and decorations include: Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Navy Unit Commendation, Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Parachutist Badge, Special Forces Tab, Global War on Terrorism Expedition Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal according to the Rhode Island National Guard.

The Associated Press contributed to this report