Adam Ashton reports in-depth in The Tacoma News Tribune for the Associated Press ,
“One of the six soldiers killed by a suicide blast Sunday in Afghanistan was from Yelm.

The News Tribune of Tacoma reports 25-year-old Cpl. Sean M. Collins was a 2004 graduate of Yelm High School. His mother, Linda Collins, is a teacher at a Yelm middle school.

Sean Collins listed his home town at Ewa Beach, Hawaii. He was assigned to the 101st Airborne Division out of Fort Campbell, Ky., and previously served two deployments in Iraq,” quoting the Seattle Times.

Also,
“Governor Chris Gregoire has directed that Washington State and United States flags at all state agency facilities be lowered to half-staff Tuesday, December 14, in memory of U. S. Marine Corps Sgt. Jason D. Peto, 31, of Vancouver, who died December 7 from wounds received last month while conducting combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.

Flags should remain at half-staff until close of business Tuesday, or first thing Wednesday morning, December 15,” quoting Governor Chris Gregoire’s website.