Laurel Marine Dies in Afghanistan

A Marine from Laurel died last week in Afghanistan, according to the Department of Defense.

Lance Cpl. Eugene C. "Gene" Mills III, 21, was killed Friday while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. According to WJLA, Mills was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force based at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina.

Mills death came as he was set to return to Laurel by the end of the summer. The Baltimore Sun is reporting that Mill’s remains returned to the United States at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware on Monday.

Mills was reportedly leading an infantry team on a patrol in the country’s Sangin Valley province when they become engaged in a firefight. Mills was fatally shot in the upper chest, his father, Gene Mills II, told the Sun.