2 Minnesota soldiers killed in Afghanistan

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Two Minnesota soldiers were killed in separate attacks in Afghanistan this week.

One is a 23-year-old lieutenant from Apple Valley who was sixth in his class at West Point. The other is a 21-year-old specialist from Maplewood.

1st Lt. Christopher Goeke (GAY'-kee) of Apple Valley was killed Tuesday in an attack on an Afghan National Army facility in Kandahar. He was a 2004 graduate of Apple Valley High School and a 2008 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

Spc. Matthew Johnson of Maplewood was killed by a homemade bomb Tuesday in Lagman, Afghanistan. He attended North High School in North St. Paul.

Both belonged to units based at Fort Bragg, N.C.

Funeral arrangements for both soldiers are pending.

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