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2 of 3 servicemen killed by bomb in Afghanistan were stationed at Ft. Bragg

WASHINGTON — The Pentagon has released the names of three U.S. servicemen killed Tuesday by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan.

They are Army Capt. Andrew Patrick Ross, age 29, of Lexington, Virginia; Army Sgt. 1st Class Eric Michael Emond, age 39, of Brush Prairie, Washington; and Air Force Staff Sgt. Dylan J. Elchin, age 25, of Hookstown, Pennsylvania.

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The three were killed in Ghazni province, an area where the Taliban is resurgent. It was the deadliest attack against U.S. forces in Afghanistan this year.

Their deaths bring the total number of U.S. service members killed in the country this year to 13.

Three other U.S. service members and an American contractor were also wounded in the attack.

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Ross and Emond were Army Green Berets, assigned to 1st Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group, based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

(From Left: Emond, Ross)

(From left: Emond, Ross)

Elchin was assigned to the 26th Special Tactics Squadron, based at Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico.

The service members were all riding in a heavily armored Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle when the roadside bomb exploded. MRAP's are the standard patrol vehicle for U.S. forces in Afghanistan because of the protection they afford specifically for roadside bombs.

The deadly attack occurred south of the city of Ghazni, the scene of heavy fighting this August as Taliban fighters took over parts of the city. The city was retaken days later after heavy combat by U.S. special operations advisers sent to assist local Afghan forces.

Five service members so far have died in Afghanistan in November -- the deadliest month for U.S. forces this year.

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Associated Press

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