A New Hampshire Marine who was barred from wearing his military uniform to his high school graduation was killed by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan on Friday, along with two other American soldiers and a military dog, officials said.
Lance Corporal Brandon Garabrant was 19 years old. The names of the fallen soldiers have not yet been released by the military, but New Hampshire Gov. Maggie Hassan confirmed his identity and offered condolences to the family.
“As a volunteer firefighter and dedicated Marine, Lance Corporal Garabrant was committed to serving his fellow citizens, and he was tragically taken from us far too soon,” the governor said in a Facebook post. “Our thoughts and prayers are with Lance Corporal Garabrant's family, as well as those of the other American heroes who were lost, and we will be forever grateful for his selfless service.”
NATO officials only said that the explosion happened in southern Afghanistan.
Garabrant made national headlines last year when ConVal Regional High School in Peterborough refused his request to wear his Marine uniform at graduation, citing school policy that forbids uniforms and requires graduates to wear caps and gowns, NBC affiliate WHDH reported.
Garabrant withdrew the request out of respect for the school and the Marines.
