U.S. military officials say a 33-year-old soldier from western Kansas has died in Afghanistan.
The Department of Defense announced Friday that Sgt. 1st Class Trenton L. Rhea of Oakley drowned Wednesday in Kandahar, Afghanistan. The department says Rhea was trying to swim across a body of water during combat operations when he drowned.
Rhea was assigned to the 603rd Military Police Company, 530th Military Police Battalion, 300th Military Police Brigade, 200th Military Police Command out of Belton, Mo.
Kansas Governor Sam Brownback issued the following statement today on the death of Sgt. 1st Class Rhea, “On behalf of the citizens of Kansas, Lt. Governor Colyer and I offer our condolences to Sgt. 1st Class Rhea’s family and friends for their loss,” said Governor Brownback. “Sgt. 1st Class Rhea will always be remembered for his service by the American people. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends during this dark time.”