THE WOODLANDS, Texas – The youngest soldier from the Houston area to die in the Afghan war was laid to rest Monday with full military honors.
U.S. Army Pfc. Kyle Holder, 18, died on November 17 at Kandahar Airfield in Afghanistan of injuries sustained in a non-combat incident. A statement from the Department of Defense did not provide any other details about the incident.
"He was an extremely hard worker," said Capt. Anton Swanson, Holder’s commanding officer during basic training. "He was very strong. He was very smart and he had that quiet confidence."
The Houston Chronicle reports Holder is the 12th local service member to die in Afghanistan this year. But he’s also the youngest from the Houston area since the war began almost a decade ago.
"We’re young. We’re going over to fight—and possibly die for our country," said Pfc. Adam Garlock. "It’s a hard responsibility. And this really puts it in perspective."
Garlock had spent the entire summer with Holder during basic training and had texted Holder days before his death.
Garlock said Holder had only been in Afghanistan a few days.
"It’s still really hard to believe," Garlock said. "It just feels so surreal."
A visitation held Sunday at the Forest Park The Woodlands Funeral Home came a day after Holder’s remains returned to Conroe.
More than 500 supporters lined the streets with flags to pay tribute. As crews unloaded Holder’s casket, jets flew overhead in the missing man formation.
Holder was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 38th Cavalry Regiment (Reconnaissance and Surveillance), 525th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade, XVIII Airborne Corps, based out of Fort Bragg, N.C.
