A soldier from Miami has been killed in Afghanistan.
According to the Department of Defense, 26-year-old Sgt. Amaru Aguilar died Friday in Kandahar province. Officials said Sunday that Aguilar died of wounds suffered when his unit encountered
small arms fire.
Known as the family prankster, Aguilar's mother, Martha Borgen, recalled how her son once stuffed himself in a car trunk to surprise her.
"He was always smiling and laughing," his sister Soli said Monday. "Even when he was fighting, he always had a smile on his face."
Aguilar was assigned to the 4th Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat team, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kan.
He had a 9-month old son that he was anxious to see soon, his sister said.
Aguilar was supposed to join his family in two weeks for a vacation.
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"Amaru will always be with us and we're going to show my grandson who he was through pictures, from friends, from me," Borgen said.
