Local Marine among 14 Americans killed in Afghanistan

NORTH ATTLEBORO, Mass. (WPRI) - A Marine from North Attleboro was killed in the line of duty Monday. According to family members, Capt. Kyle R. Van De Giesen was among 14 Americans killed in two separate helicopter crashes in Afghanistan.

In one of the crashes 10 Americans, including seven troops and three agents from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, were killed when their chopper went down shortly after a firefight in the western part of Afghanistan.

In another crash, four troops were killed when two U.S. Marine helicopters crashed in flight over the southern province of Helmand.

It's not yet know in which crash Van De Giesen was killed.

Van De Giesen was a 1998 graduate of North Attleboro High School and a 2002 graduate of St. Anselm College. He was currently stationed at Camp Pendleton in San Diego, Calif.

His family said Van De Giesen was proud to seve his country.

"He fulfilled his life-long dream of becoming a Marine helicopter pilot; protecting his family and seving his country," a family statement said.

Van De Giesen leaves behind his wife, Megan, who is pregnant with the couple's second child, a son. They also have a daughter, Avery.

The family said it won't have information on funeral arrangements until later this week.