TH South grad killed in Afghanistan

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - An area soldier has died while serving his country.

Twenty-nine-year-old Sgt. Dale Griffin, of Terre Haute, passed away in Afghanistan this week.

Griffin, along with six other soldiers and an Afghan interpreter, died when their armored vehicle ran into an improvised explosive device.

Early Thursday morning, President Barack Obama honored 18 fallen soldiers who were killed in Afghanistan this week. Obama saluted the remains of Sgt. Griffin, who was the only one to be brought in full view of the media.

Griffin graduated from Terre Haute South Vigo High School in 1999. He was a member of the wrestling team, making it to the state finals and ended up as the state runner-up for his weight class.

Griffin is the youngest of three siblings and had been in the Army for about four years.