Drum soldier reportedly dies in Afghanistan duty

FORT DRUM — A Fort Drum soldier was killed Thursday by a roadside bomb while serving in Afghanistan, according to the Buffalo News.

Spc. Alan N. Dikcis, 21, Wheatfield, Niagara County, apparently was riding in a vehicle near the Taliban stronghold of Marjah when it hit an improvised explosive device, the newspaper reported. A member of the 630th Engineer Company in the 10th Mountain Division, he had been slated for a two-week leave in April.

Spc. Dikcis's older brother, Stanley, 23, suffered wounds and head trauma as the result of a roadside bomb in Afghanistan a year and a half ago while serving in the Army, according to the report.

The U.S. Department of Defense on Sunday evening had yet to confirm the death of Spc. Dikcis.