Wasilla soldier remembered in private service at JBER

A private service for Private First Class Hansen Kirkpatrick was held at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson Wednesday. Kirkpatrick, a resident of Wasilla, was killed in action July 3 while serving in Afghanistan. The cause of the 19-year-old’s death was an indirect mortar fire attack, Department of Defense officials stated. He was a member of the U.S. Army’s 1st Battalion, 36th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division based at Fort Worth, Texas. His battalion was deployed earlier this year to train, advise and assist in the ongoing training of Afghan security forces.