Originally published Wednesday, July 16, 2008 at 12:00 AM
Seattle soldier killed in Afghanistan rocket attack
A Seattle soldier was among nine who died Sunday during combat in Afghanistan.
A Seattle man was among nine U.S. soldiers who died Sunday during an attack on a remote outpost in eastern Afghanistan.
Cpl. Jason M. Bogar, 25, died after the outpost was attacked by militants with small-arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades, according to the Department of Defense. Bogar was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 503d Infantry Regiment (Airborne), 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, Vicenza, Italy.
Dean Bogar, the slain soldier's grandfather, described his grandson as a "good kid."
"He was a good boy and he was willing to lay down his life for his country and his fellow soldiers," said Bogar, of Enumclaw. "He gave his life to Christ before he left on this last deployment."
Sunday's attack by some 200 militants was the deadliest for the U.S. military in Afghanistan in three years. Rebels fought their way into the newly established base, wounding another 15 Americans and suffering heavy casualties of their own, before the defenders and warplanes could drive them back.
The assault underlined how Islamic militants appear to be gaining strength nearly eight years after the ouster of the Taliban, and the difficulties facing foreign and Afghan forces trying to defeat them.
NATO said the post, which lies amid precipitous mountains close to the Pakistan border, had been vacated, but insisted that international and Afghan troops will "retain a strong presence in that area with patrolling and other means."
"We are committed, now more than ever, to establishing a secure environment that will allow even greater opportunities for development and a stronger Afghan governmental influence," NATO spokesman Capt. Mike Finney said.
Omar Sami, spokesman for the Nuristan provincial governor, said American and Afghan soldiers quit the base on Tuesday afternoon. He said they took the district mayor with them.
Sami said U.S. troops armed local police with more than 20 guns before they left, but that the officers had fled the village and crossed into neighboring Kunar province when 100 militants moved into Wanat.
Seattle Times staff reporter Jennifer Sullivan contributed to the report.
Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company
Big demand, grim outlook for state Basic Health Plan
Flood fears dampen business, home sales
Nicole Brodeur: Homeless woman bent on giving
Kirkland annexation barely fails; council could pass it
Portland cafe's specialty: medical-marijuana tokes

New Beginnings Christian Fellowship
Coming in this Sunday's Pacific Northwest Magazine: Pastor Braxton's mission is to preach a message that appeals to everyone.
nwautos
Local riders say they've seen a surge in scooter interest in recent years, mostly from people wanting another commuting option. Seattle now ranks as o...
Post a comment
nwjobs
Post a comment
Michelle Goodman blogs about work/life balance.
Do you suffer from "sitting disease"?
Post a comment
- Illegal workers quietly let go
- Sprouts, raw fish on attorney's 'do not eat' list
- Jerry Brewer | Jerry Brewer: Seahawks can't lean on the Hutch Crutch now
- Woman stabbed by stranger in North Seattle
- Tattoos at Mill Creek church pierce skin, soul
- UW, WSU once again meet to see who's worse
- Food-safety lawyer's wish: Put me out of business
- Husky Football Blog | Ranking the Pac
- Vikings easily beat the Seahawks
- Tugboat sinks at Seattle waterfront pier
- Illegal workers quietly let go
430 - Bellevue residents blast new bikini espresso stand
219 - Jose Lopez appears to be on his way out
170 - Big demand, grim outlook for state Basic Health Plan
162 - Next Seahawks GM should be Mike Holmgren
131 - Washington State coach Paul Wulff says he's excited about Cougars' future
127 - Seattle woman charged with knife attack on boyfriend's ex
94 - Middleton says Huskies "plan on scoring at least 50 points'' Saturday
87 - Some fans at Fort Bragg see themselves in Sarah Palin
71 - Hate crimes against gays, religious groups up, FBI says
62
- Sprouts, raw fish on attorney's 'do not eat' list
- Tattoos at Mill Creek church pierce skin, soul
- Food-safety lawyer's wish: Put me out of business
- Illegal workers quietly let go
- Architects, chefs find 'kid' within to build Gingerbread Village
- Nicole Brodeur | Homeless woman bent on giving
- Hutch gets $10M from Bezos family for immunotherapy research
- Big demand, grim outlook for state Basic Health Plan
- Rediscovering Moab, 'the most beautiful place on Earth'
- UW, WSU once again meet to see who's worse





