National Guard Soldier Killed in Afghanistan Identified as Utah Mayor, Father of 7

The American service member killed Saturday in an apparent insider attack in Afghanistan has been identified as Army Maj. Brent Taylor of the Utah Army National Guard.

Initial reports indicate Taylor was shot and killed by a member of the Afghan security forces, according to Operation Resolute Support, the NATO training mission in Afghanistan.

Another U.S. soldier was wounded in the attack, which occurred at the Kabul Military Training Center early Saturday afternoon. That soldier received medical treatment at Bagram airfield and returned to duty, NATO officials said.

Taylor deployed to Afghanistan in January as part of an advisory team that trains Afghan commando units, the Salt Lake Tribune reported. Before his death, he had served more than a decade in the National Guard, including seven years on active duty. . .

In civilian life, Taylor was the mayor of North Ogden, Utah, a city of about 17,000 people about 45 miles north of Salt Lake City. First elected in 2013, Taylor told the Salt Lake Tribune earlier this year that serving as mayor was “one of the greatest honors of my life and the highlight of my civilian professional career.” (Read more from “National Guard Soldier Killed in Afghanistan Identified as Utah Mayor, Father of 7” HERE)

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Utahns Mourn Loss of ‘Genuine Hero’: North Ogden Mayor Brent Taylor Killed in Afghanistan in Apparent Insider Attack

By Salt Lake Tribune. After he got his orders in January to deploy to Afghanistan, North Ogden Mayor Brent Taylor went live on Facebook to tell his constituents he’d be gone and what to expect.

It was an easy choice for him, one that was months in the making, rooted in decisions he’d made years ago to serve God, his family and his country. . .

Taylor was killed during an apparent insider attack early Saturday in Kabul. The attacker was immediately killed by Afghan Forces, according to NATO. The Utah National Guard hasn’t confirmed Taylor was killed in the attack, but Maj. Gen. Jefferson S. Burton, the adjutant general, in a news release, said: “My heart breaks for the loss and sacrifice of our soldier, particularly for the family. I wish them all the comfort and courage to face the difficult days ahead.”

Utah Gov. Gary Herbert said in a statement that he was heartbroken by Taylor’s death, calling the North Ogden mayor a “brave and selfless soldier.” . . .

Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox, echoed Herbert, writing on Facebook, “We lost a genuine hero and one of the best people in our state. We must rally around his sweet family.” (Read more from “Utahns Mourn Loss of ‘Genuine Hero’: North Ogden Mayor Brent Taylor Killed in Afghanistan in Apparent Insider Attack” HERE)

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