South Tahoe grad Army Spc. Garrett Fant dies in Afghanistan

UPDATE: 9:50AM: We received word this morning that U.S. Army Spc. Garrett Fant, 4th Calvary, died on Sept. 26 in Afghanistan. He was 21-years old and listed as attending South Tahoe High School. The U.S. Army has not sent an official notice of his death but it has been confirmed through the news organization KSAL out of Fort Riley, Kansas. Fant's mother is Julia Towle Farell of South Lake Tahoe.

The U.S. Army announcement to the press came this morning but details have remained vague. News also reached Fant's Facebook page. Word surfaced from family friend and Gold Star Mother Patty Smith, who's son Sgt. Tim Smith, of South Lake Tahoe, died April 7. 2008 in Iraq. According to KSAL, Garrett Fant died due to injuries sustained from an improvised explosive device in southern Afghanistan. He was on patrol in southern Afghanistan's Kandahar Province on Monday of this week when the IED detonated.

Fant, who was listed on KSAL News Radio as being from American Canyon, Calif., was assigned to the 4th Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, currently deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Fant joined the Army in March 2009 as an indirect fire infantryman. This was his first deployment. Fant's awards include the Combat Infantryman's Badge, NATO Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with one Campaign Star, and the Army Service Ribbon.