WPRO News and the Associated Press
BRISTOL, R.I. (AP) – An Army Green Beret from Rhode Island has been killed in Afghanistan just a month after he was honored at the Fourth of July parade in his hometown of Bristol.
Bristol State Representative Raymond Gallison said his parents were incredibly proud to have their son honored in the historic parade.
“They were beaming; his mother was crying with joy and now to have this happen is just a total tragedy,” said Gallison.
The 7th Special Forces Group to which he was assigned said Sunday that 35-year-old Master Sgt. Peter Andrew McKenna Jr. died Friday in Kabul during an attack on a NATO facility. McKenna, a 17-year Army veteran, was serving at the rank of 1st Sergeant during his deployment. The Pentagon said he was struck by enemy small arms fire.
Rhode Island U.S. Sen. Jack Reed, who announced McKenna’s death Saturday night, had joined state Rep. Raymond Gallison at the parade to present McKenna with a U.S. flag flown over the Capitol.
Gov. Gina Raimondo ordered flags flown at half-staff beginning Tuesday through his funeral services.
