Service planned for fallen local soldier

Members of the 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry regiment pause at a memorial service at FOB Ramrod for Pfc. Brian Bates, 20, from Gretna, La. He was killed in Kandahar last week by an IED while driving a Stryker on patrol. (Chris Maddaloni, Military Times)

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• Military Times

FORT LEWIS, Wash. (AP) — Fort Lewis is planning memorial services Thursday and Tuesday for the eight soldiers who were killed on Oct. 27 in Afghanistan.

A service will be held Thursday at the North Fort Chapel for 20-year-old Pfc. Brian R. Bates of Gretna, La., who was killed by a roadside bomb.

Spokeswoman Catherine Caruso says a service is tentatively planned for Tuesday at the North Fort Chapel for the seven other soldiers killed the same day by another roadside bomb.

All were members of the 5th Stryker brigade that deployed in July.

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