Military authorities say a western Pennsylvania man was one of six soldiers killed in an attack in Afghanistan.

The Department of Defense says 29-year-old Staff Sgt. Edward Mills Jr. of New Castle and the others died Thursday of wounds following an attack in Kandahar province.

Mills was a member of the Army's 101st Airborne Ranger Pathfinders on his third tour of duty in the Middle East.

Family members told the New Castle News that the 2000 graduate of Union High School had been in Afghanistan since Feb. 11.

"He was in a highly-trained, specialized unit," said his uncle, Francis "Poncho" Exposito. "He liked it and talked about making a career for himself in the military."

Exposito said the family was notified early Friday. He said he did not have details of the attack that killed Mills.

"It's been tough," he told the paper for a story Saturday. "We're a close family. This is the last thing you expect to hear — especially on Memorial Day weekend."

Proceeds from the SSG Edward D. Mills bracelet will be donated to Legacies Alive.