Army SPC Thomas J. Mayberry was killed Saturday while on duty in Afghanistan, the Department of Defense announced Thursday.

He is the second soldier with ties to Springville to have died in the last three months; the other was Army SPC Douglas J. Jeffries, 20, who was killed 8 Sep 11.

Mayberry, 21, and two other soldiers in his unit, died in the Wardak province of Afghanistan from wounds suffered when insurgents attacked their unit with an improvised explosive device. He was posthumously promoted to the rank of specialist.

KMPH Fox 26 reports that Mayberry attended school in Clovis from the sixth grade through his sophomore year. He briefly attended Porterville High School, and graduated from Citrus High School in November of 2008, according to PHS Principal Steve Graybhel.

Mayberry enlisted in the service from Oakland in January 2009 and was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, from Fort Bliss, Texas.

His previous assignments include Fort Benning, Camp Casey, and South Korea and his awards and decorations include the National Defense Service Medal, Korea Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with a Campaign Star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the Army Service Ribbon.

He is survived by his spouse.

On Thursday, Tulare County Supervisor and Chairman Mike Ennis, requested all U.S. flags at county buildings be flown at half-staff in remembrance of Mayberry.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of Thomas J. Mayberry and all of the families who have lost young men and women who died serving our country,” Ennis said in a statement released Thursday.

Individuals, businesses, and other organizations are encouraged to join the county in remembrance of the fallen soldier.

Flags will be flown at half-staff to the date of Mayberry’s funeral services, Ennis said.

SPC Mayberry is the 1,851st American killed in Afghanistan … Ich hatt’ einen Kameraden