AFGHANISTAN: American casualty identified

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Sgt. Matthew E. Mendoza, 24, of San Antonio, Texas, died Friday while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan, the Defense Department announced. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, Twentynine Palms, Calif. At least 532 U.S. service members have died since the war began in 2001.