WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Department of Defense on Wednesday afternoon confirmed the death in Afghanistan last week of a Special Forces soldier from Greeneville.

A Department of Defense press release said Staff Sgt. Rusty H. Christian, 24, of Greeneville, died Jan. 28 in Oruzgan province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.

Sgt. Christian was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.

The Greeneville Sun first reported Sgt. Christian's death on Friday, Jan. 29, after local family members were notified by military authorities.

He was a 2004 graduate of Greeneville High School and has many friends in this community.

His brother, Aaron Christian, is a math teacher and assistant football coach at Chuckey-Doak High School.

Sgt. Christian's wife, Amber Christian, and their two young children, Taylor and Gavin, live at Fort Lewis, Wash.

His mother and stepfather, Donna and Jim Ball, are residents of Kingsport.

His father and stepmother, Mike and Nancy Christian, live in Laurel Bloomery, near Mountain City.

Sgt. Christian is believed to be the first Greene County resident to die in the Afghanistan war.

A memorial service for will be held at a later date in Kingsport, family members told The Greeneville Sun.

Sgt. Christian is expected to be buried at Arlington National Cemetery outside Washington, D.C.