Oregon Public Broadcasting

A soldier from Vancouver Washington has been identified as one of those killed this week in  Afghanistan. April Baer reports.

Twenty-five-year-old Private First Class Ian Walz spent much of his short life in Vancouver, graduating from Hudson's Bay High School in 2002.

Family members told the Columbian Walz graduated from Clark College. He was one of seven Fort Lewis-based soldiers killed by an improvised explosive device on Tuesday.

One other casualty was reported in a subsequent attack.

Public Affairs Specialist Catherine Caruso at Fort Lewis says the 5th Stryker Brigade has been heavily engaged in Afghanistan, losing eighteen solders since deployment.

Catherine Caruso  "When we've lost a solider we make a really concerted effort to remember each soldier as an individual, and not to think of them as numbers."

President Obama met Wednesday night with Walz' family members, and other kin of the fallen. The Defense Department may not officially identify the casualties for another day or two.