Chicago-Area Soldier Killed In 'Insider Attack' In Afghanistan

CHICAGO — A Chicago-area man is being mourned by his family after he was identified as one of two American soldiers killed in Afghanistan Monday. U.S. Army Spc. Michael Isaiah Nance, 24, is reported to have been killed during an inside attack in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan, U.S. Department of Defense officials said.

The other service member who died in the attack was Pfc. Brandon Jay Kreischer, 20, of Stryker, Ohio. The paratroopers were supporting Operation Freedom's Sentinel in Afghanistan, with the 3rd Brigade Combat Team's 82nd Airborne Division.

“These young men were true All Americans and embodied the qualities of selfless service and courage as they answered our nation’s call to deploy to Afghanistan,” Col. Arthur Sellers, commander of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, said in a division statement. “Our focus is now providing their loved ones with every available resource to help them in this most difficult time.”

A security source told ABC News that an Afghan army soldier opened fire inside a local military camp in the Kandahar province, where the paratroopers had been conducting operations. The incident remains under investigation.

Known as “Isaiah” to family and friends, the young soldier grew up on Chicago’s South Side and attended high school in the suburbs, ABC 7 Chicago reported. Nance had been deployed to Afghanistan earlier this month, after celebrating his birthday with family and friends in Chicago. He also traveled to Europe with his mother, who lives in Glenwood. His father resides in Chicago.

Nance joined the Army in January 2017 and completed Basic Combat Training, Advanced Individual Training and Airborne School at Fort Benning, Georgia, before being assigned to 1-505th PIR as an automatic rifleman, a division news release said.

The Chicago serviceman's awards and decorations include the Purple Heart, Bronze Star, Army Service Ribbon, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terror Service Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge and Basic Parachutist Badge.

Family members told NBC 5 Chicago that Nance wanted to follow in a relative’s footsteps by becoming a police officer.

“Even if it seems that it’s tough, just try to live out your dreams so you will have no regrets and that’s what Isaiah did,” Forest said. “He lived out his dream."

Nance’s mother is said to be flying to the East Coast to bring her son’s remains home.