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Utah Mayor Killed on Deployment in Afghanistan

39-year-old Brent Taylor, mayor of North Ogden, killed on 4th deployment with Utah National Guard
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Nov 4, 2018 8:11 AM CST
Utah Mayor Killed on Deployment in Afghanistan
North Ogden Mayor Brent Taylor.   (Facebook)

The mayor of a Utah city was killed during an attack in Afghanistan while he was serving with the state's National Guard, the Salt Lake Tribune reports. North Ogden Mayor Brent Taylor died Saturday in an apparent "insider attack" in Kabul. Another US service member is being treated for wounds sustained in the attack, US military officials said. Utah Lt. Gov. Spencer J. Cox confirmed on Facebook that Taylor, 39, was killed, adds the AP. "Devastating news," Cox wrote. "I hate this. I'm struggling for words. I love Mayor Taylor, his amazing wife Jennie and his seven sweet kids. Utah weeps for them today. This war has once again cost us the best blood of a generation." Sen. Orrin Hatch tweeted that, "Brent was a hero, a patriot, a wonderful father, and a dear friend. News of his death in Afghanistan is devastating."

Taylor was deployed to Afghanistan in January with the Utah National Guard for what was to be a 12-month tour of duty. Taylor, an officer in the National Guard, previously served two tours in Iraq and one in Afghanistan. At the time of his deployment, Taylor told local media that, as an intelligence officer, he will be assigned to serve on an advisory team training the staff of an Afghan commando battalion. "Right now there is a need for my experience and skills to serve in our nation's long-lasting war in Afghanistan," he said. "President Trump has ordered an increase in troops, and part of the new strategy focuses on expanding the capabilities of the Afghan commando units." Taylor became mayor of North Ogden, a city of about 17,000, in 2013. On the day of his deployment, North Ogden police escorted Taylor and his family around town as hundreds of residents lined the streets to see him off.

(More Utah stories.)

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