US names dead soldier

Chapman was described as a devoted father

The first American soldier to be killed by enemy fire in Afghanistan has been named as Sergeant Nathan Ross Chapman, a father of two.

This American serviceman was doing his job

General Tommy Franks
US Central Command

Chapman, a 31-year-old special forces communications specialist, died on Friday when he was hit by small-arms fire during an ambush by Taleban or al-Qaeda fighters.

His parents, Will and Lynn Chapman, told a local newspaper that their son had served in Panama, Haiti and the Gulf War.

"As Sergeant Chapman's parents, we are so proud that he had grown into such a wonderful son who was a proud father, loving husband, and devoted to serving his country," the Chapmans said in a statement released from their home in Georgetown, Texas.

"He loved parenting his children and cherished the time he had with them and his wife."

American military officials said Chapman was part of a US team operating in Paktia province near the town of Khost, a few miles from the Pakistan border.

They added that Chapman and a Central Intelligence Agency officer were ambushed after a meeting with local tribal leaders, and exchanged fire with their assailants.

The CIA officer was wounded but was expected to survive.

"This American serviceman was doing his job," General Tommy Franks, commander of US Central Command, said of Chapman.

"He was out for the purpose of working with and co-ordinating with tribal leaders in that area."

General Franks says "mopping-up operations" against al-Qaeda and the Taleban will continue

US special forces have been advising, arming, training and co-ordinating their actions with local Afghan forces since the American military campaign against Osama Bin Laden's al-Qaeda network and their Taleban protectors began on 7 October, General Franks said.

Before Friday, the only US servicemen killed inside Afghanistan were three special forces soldiers mistakenly hit last month by an American air strike north of Kandahar.

In October, two soldiers died when their helicopter crashed in Pakistan.

A CIA operative was killed on 25 November when captured Taleban and al-Qaeda fighters rose up near the nortehrn city of Mazar-e-Sharif.