A special agent with the Army's Criminal Investigation Division was among four soldiers killed in an attack in Afghanistan on Sunday.
Sgt. Joseph M. Peters succumbed to injuries sustained when his unit encountered an improvised explosive device in the Kandahar Province, according to a news release.
The 24-year-old Springfield, Mo. native was assigned to the 286th Military Police Detachment, 5th Military Police Battalion in Vicenza, Italy.
Peters was the first special agent for CID to be killed in Iraq or Afghanistan.
Also killed in the attack were 1st Lt. Jennifer M. Moreno, Sgt. Patrick C. Hawkins, and Pfc. Cody J. Patterson.
"Special Agent Peters was a highly respected agent and soldier who sacrificed his life in the defense of this nation," Major General David Quantock, the Provost Marshal General of the United States Army and Commanding General of the United States Army Criminal Investigation Command said in a statement.
"We are extremely proud of his service and what he accomplished as a CID Special Agent and as a Soldier. His death is a reminder to all of us of the unequaled contributions our military members and their families make on a daily basis in the defense of the freedoms that we all enjoy and value so dearly."
Peters was a member of the U.S. Army for six years and had served two deployments in Iraq before being assigned to Afghanistan. He is survived by his wife and 20-month-old son.
He was posthumously awarded the Combat Action Badge, Bronze Star Medal and Purple Heart.
Funeral arrangements are pending.
