NE soldier killed in Afghanistan

William D. Vile, a decorated Army staff sergeant from Northeast Philadelphia, was killed by insurgents in Afghanistan last Friday.

Military officials confirmed his death on Tuesday after his remains were positively identified through DNA tests.

Vile, 27, was working as a military transition team member with the 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, based at Fort Riley, Kan.

He trained other soldiers to mentor their Afghan counterparts as part of Operation Enduring Freedom, military officials said.

Military officials said insurgents opened fire on a group of soldiers near the Afghan village of Nishagam, near the Konar Province, on Friday

Vile, who had been awarded two Purple Hearts, was killed, as were Sgt. James D. Pirtle, of Colorado Springs, Colo., and Spec. Ryan C. King, of Dallas, Ga., the Department of Defense said.

Vile's relatives declined to comment yesterday.

He was one of 30 soldiers from Pennsylvania who have died supporting Operation Enduring Freedom, according to military data.

Another 193 soldiers from the state have died during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

More than 1,200 soldiers from Pennsylvania have been wounded in both wars, according to the military. *