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Beverly Soldier Killed In Afghanistan

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Oct 16, 2008 12:04 pm US/Eastern

Beverly Soldier Killed In Afghanistan

BEVERLY (AP) ― A 25-year-old soldier from Beverly has died after his truck hit a roadside bomb in Afghanistan.
 
Army Spc. Stephen Fortunato was killed Monday in Beverly's first wartime fatality since the Vietnam War. He was killed on his first day back on patrol after a 19-day leave in Massachusetts.

Fortunato was in the 26th Infantry Regiment and served as a gunner in back of a Humvee. He had served in Afghanistan since July.

Fortunato's mother, Elizabeth Crawford, told The Salem News her son was a brave soldier and had been eager to return to help his unit.

His wife, Sherri, said her husband was a caring person who loved his family and his pet python, Max.

Fortunato grew up in Beverly and graduated from the city's high school in 2002. He and his wife had been married since 2006.

(© 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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