Title corrected: Sergeant Major Barreras passed away in Texas after wounds received while serving in Afghanistan.

An Army Ranger from Tucson has died after being shot in Afghanistan, the Defense Department announced. He was among those who rescued former POW Jessica Lynch from an Iraqi hospital in 2003. The Pentagon said in a statement that Command Sgt. Maj. Martin R. Barreras, 49, died May 13 in Texas after suffering injuries in Afghanistan on May 6.

Governor Jan Brewer ordered all flags to be flown at half-staff from sunrise to sunset today. In her statement, she said,

I Ask That All Arizonans Hold In Their Thoughts And Prayers the family of U.S. Army Command Sergeant Major Martin Barreras, a Tucson soldier who passed away Tuesday, May 13, from injuries sustained while serving in Afghanistan. Command Sgt. Maj. Barreras, 49, dedicated more than three decades to military service, including five years as a U.S. Marine before enlisting in the Army. … As we mourn this American hero, let us always honor all of our nation’s men and women in uniform with our eternal gratitude and admiration.

The Army Ranger helped rescue former POW Jessica Lynch from an Iraqi hospital in 2003 has died after being shot in Afghanistan, the Defense Department announced Thursday. The Pentagon said in a statement that Command Sgt. Maj. Martin R. Barreras, 49, died May 13 in Texas after suffering injuries in Afghanistan on May 6. Barreras, known as “Gunny,” was the top enlisted soldier for a unit based in Fort Bliss, Texas at the time of his death, according to the Army Times. He joined the Army in 1988 after serving five years in the Marine Corps.

Barreras, known as “Gunny,” was the top enlisted soldier for a unit based in Fort Bliss, Texas at the time of his death, according to the Army Times. He joined the Army in 1988 after serving five years in the Marine Corps.

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Updated 10:00