Two Hoosier soldiers die in Afghanistan

BERNE, Ind. (WISH) - A soldier from Berne and another from Crown Point died while serving in Afghanistan, the state confirmed Tuesday.

Spc. Nick Taylor, Berne, and Spc. Sergio Perez, Crown Point, were with the Army National Guard 713 Engineer Company out of Valparaiso.

According to Taylor's brother Drew, he was riding in a military armored vehicle Monday and came under fire. Drew said Taylor died as a result of an rocket-propelled grenade.

On Tuesday, Gov. Mitch Daniels and Maj. Gen. Martin Umbarger, Indiana National Guard Adjutant General, said they had been notified of Taylor's and Perez's deaths in a complex attack in Kandahar Province on Monday.

"The Soldiers of the 713th Engineer Company face a dangerous mission every single day - a danger of which they are very aware with firsthand experience of the threat and consequences," said Umbarger. "In spite of the danger, these two Sappers soldiered on, and we will now honor their courage and always remember their sacrifice."

Taylor, who graduated from South Adams High School in 2010,.played football, wrestling and track while attending South Adams High School, according to 24-Hour News 8 news partner WANE-TV. He was also a volunteer track coach at the school during spring 2011.

According to family, Taylor was scheduled to come come in September; he had spoken about enrolling at IPFW with his brother and majoring in criminal justice.

The National Guard said Perez graduated from Lake Central High School in May 2010.