Here are three video clips showing Aaron Fairbairn’s unit assaulting into the area where he would later be killed in action.

B-Roll of U.S. and Afghan forces Air Assault into Zurok to patrol the area for anti-Afghan forces. Scenes include forces boarding and disembarking from helicopters and an injured Soldier getting a medical evacuation. Produced by Sgt. Richard Fink.

B-Roll of U.S. and Afghan forces Air Assault into Zurok to patrol the area for anti-Afghan forces. Scenes include a helicopter landing and take off, Afghan villagers and Soldiers and Soldiers patrolling mountain trails. Produced by Sgt. Richard Fink

B-Roll of U.S. and Afghan forces Air Assault into Zurok to patrol the area for anti-Afghan forces. Scenes include the discovery of a weapons cache, burning enemy equipment, an explosion and Soldiers on patrol on a mountain trail. Produced by Sgt. Richard Fink.

The Department of Defense has confirmed what thousands of people on Twitter already knew. Aaron Fairbairn gave his life in the service of his country on July 4, 2009.

The Department of Defense announced today the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. They died July 4 at Combat Outpost Zerok, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked the outpost using small arms and indirect fires. They were assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, Fort Richardson, Alaska.

Killed were:

• Pfc. Justin A. Casillas, 19, of Dunnigan, Calif.
• Pfc. Aaron E. Fairbairn, 20, of Aberdeen, Wash.

DoD

“At first I didn’t believe it,” said Beau Beck, Fairbairn’s oldest brother, who learned about his brother’s death while he was coaching a Little League team.

“I talked to Aaron probably 12 hours prior to that,” Beck said from Dover. “The first thing that rushed to my mind is that he’s so young and such a good kid.”

His stepfather described him as joyous, honest and dependable, the kid everyone knew first as the paperboy, then as a local lot attendant or the guy who worked at Papa Murphy’s Pizza.

Fairbairn, a graduate of Aberdeen’s Weatherwax High, was an off-road enthusiast who loved riding dirt bikes and four-wheeling in his truck. He hadn’t yet decided what he wanted to do after the service but leaned toward mechanics.

Seattle Times

UPDATE:

Two International Security Assistance Force service members were killed in an improvised explosive device strike that occurred in eastern Afghanistan this morning.

“On this sad day, we continue with our mission as we remember the lives of our fallen soldiers. The true commitment and the determination of these fine soldiers are helping to make a difference in the lives of the people of Afghanistan” said Brig. Gen. Éric Tremblay, ISAF spokesperson.

“We remain resolute in meeting our obligation towards the citizens of Afghanistan and we will carry on fighting the enemies of this country to improve security and allow progress to take place for all Afghans.”

It is ISAF policy not to release the nationality of any casualty prior to the relevant national authority doing so.

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It is about 1 a.m. here along America’s North Shore. A few short hours ago, word began to spread on Twitter about the loss of two of our finest in Afghanistan.

David M. Masters posted the following about 6 p.m. EDT:

# I’m so sorry, Aaron… You are MY hero… I love you… #thankyouaaron 25 minutes ago from web

Shelley, Beau and Sascha are enroute to Dover to meet Aaron’s body, given in service this Independence Day. I love you, Aaron. about 2 hours ago from web

That you, @BobBurg. Please spread the word, “Thank you, Aaron,” for making the ultimate sacrifice this Independence Day. about 6 hours ago from web

I’d like to see “Thank you, Aaron,” show up on the Trending Topics for giving his life on Independence Day in Afghanistan. about 7 hours ago from web

On Independence Day, a few hours ago, they killed my son, Aaron in Afghanistan. about 7 hours ago from web

Killing my son, Aaron and the Officer. about 7 hours ago from web

When a suicide bomber, driving a truck breached the perimiter and pushed the button… about 7 hours ago from web

He was minding his own business BS-ing with an Officer on base in Afghanistan… about 7 hours ago from web

They killed my son, Aaron! about 7 hours ago from web

The hashtag #thankyouaaron is presently number 1 in Trending Topics. Hundreds, thousands of people are repeating the hashtag. Expressions of sorrow are being addressed to Mr. Masters and his family.

Here is the Masters family. It is a real “Brady Bunch”. The couple, David and Shelley, are weight loss and diet experts.

Aaron has a MySpace page. This is what he said about himself:

Hey my name is Aaron Fairbairn, I am 20 and in the army. I like to ride dirtbikes, go muddin and all of that kind of stuff. One of my favorite things to do is work on my truck when I break it. I have a yamaha yz 125 I haven’t got to ride it much because of work but i plan to go race it sometime.

The official announcement has not yet been released. It appears that Aaron was one of the two soldiers killed in a large Taliban attack on a base in Paktika. That is just a “maybe” until DoD releases the info. They hold it back a couple of days so that the families can all be notified.

Words cannot express the sorrow I feel at the loss of this young man. My thanks go to his family for his service and his sacrifice.