Fort Drum soldier killed in Afghanistan

FORT DRUM — The Department of Defense has announced the death of Pvt. Jackie L. Diener II.

Pvt. Diener, 20, Boyne City, Mich., died Nov. 21 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with small-arms fire.

He was a cavalry scout assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 71st Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division. He joined the Army in March, arrived at Fort Drum in July and deployed in September.

Pvt. Diener graduated from Boyne City High School in 2009. He spent part of his high school years studying abroad. According to his Facebook page, he was a 2008 graduate of Espergaerde Gymnasium og HF, a high school in Denmark.

Pvt. Diener was awarded the Purple Heart, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the NATO Medal and the Army Combat Action badge.

He is survived by his parents.