Minn. soldier killed in Afghanistan

Minneapolis (AP) — A soldier from Minnesota was killed while trying to disarm an explosive device in Afghanistan, the Department of Defense announced Tuesday.

Staff Sgt. Brian E. Studer, 28, of Ramsey, died last Friday in Ghazni, Afghanistan.

He was assigned to the 720th Explosive Ordnance Disposal Company, 28th Transportation Battalion, 18th Military Police Brigade out of Mannheim, Germany.

Studer was the 74th person with strong Minnesota ties to have died in connection with the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. He grew up in Ramsey and graduated from Elk River High School in 1999.

His mother, Ellen Hanson, of Ramsey, told the Star Tribune her son had been in the Army for nine years and was scheduled to leave the service early next year.

"It was so close," his brother, Philip Studer, told the newspaper. "He was almost done. He was ready to get out."

He said his brother planned to use his military experience by joining the HALO Trust, a British-based nongovernmental organization that specializes in removal of war debris, including mines.

Funeral services were pending.