Lebanon, Ohio soldier killed in Afghanistan

LEBANON, Ohio - A 38-year-old southwest Ohio soldier who was just days away from a visit home to see his wife and three children has been killed in Afghanistan.

Sgt. First Class Bobby Estle of Lebanon was one of two Fort Drum, N.Y.-based soldiers killed Saturday when their unit was attacked with small arms fire in Wardak Province, the Army said Monday. Also killed was Private First Class Jose Belmontes, 28, of La Verne, Calif. Both were with the 630th Engineer Company, 7th Engineer Battalion, 10th Sustainment Brigade.

Monica Estle said she was informed of her husband's death during a visit by two military representatives to her home in South Lebanon.

"I'm proud of him every day," she told WKRC-TV ( http://bit.ly/Qrq3yd ) in Cincinnati. "I will always be proud of him."

Estle joined the Army in 1993. He had been deployed twice to Iraq and twice to Afghanistan. His wife said the family had been looking forward to a visit home from him within 10 days.

"He did so much for everybody ... anybody," she said.

Among the many awards and decorations the combat engineer received are the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal and others.

Services will be scheduled later in Lebanon.