WIS News 10 - Columbia, South Carolina |Family says soldier from Marion killed in Afghanistan

Family says soldier from Marion killed in Afghanistan

FLORENCE, SC (AP) - The family of an Army National Guard soldier from Marion says he has died in action in Afghanistan.

Harold Caldwell, brother-in-law of 28-year-old Staff Sgt. James David Bullard, says military officials told the family Tuesday that Bullard was killed by enemy fire.

Bullard was a member of the Army National Guard 1st Battalion 263rd Cavalry based in Dillon. The 263rd is a subordinate group of the 218th.

Caldwell says Bullard always wanted to be a soldier. He joined the National Guard right out of high school.

Bullard had been in the military 11 years before he was sent to Afghanistan in January on his first overseas deployment. He had just returned home for two weeks to see the birth of his first child, now seven-weeks-old.

Stephanie Graves, James' younger sister, says, "My first reaction was just disbelief, as, I think, for all of the family. I think disbelief, and the, now of course it's going into the grieving stages."

Stephanie James says her big brother was fun, and he was serving his country, doing what he wanted to do.

Those words are echoed by the family pastor, Mike Watkins, "He's a very godly man, loved the military, and loved his country."

Watkins says, "Words can't express what we're feeling now because we never thought something like this would ever happen."

Marion city mayor Bobby Gerald says this is the first time a solider from Marion has died in war. To honor the man many consider a hometown hero, flags outside city hall will fly at half-staff until Staff Sergeant James David Bullard is buried.

Caldwell's former employer also expressed their sorrow for his death.

"As a Food Lion family, we are terribly saddened by the loss of David Bullard.  David was a fine young man and had been employed by Food Lion for eleven years. Our prayers go out to his family," said Food Lion Corporate Communications Manager Karen S. Peterson.

Bullard is the second member of the 218th to die in Afghanistan in a week. Sergeant Edward Philpot was killed in a vehicle accident. His family lives in Latta. He served with the first 263rd Armored Battalion. Sergeant Philpot was originally from Kentucky and buried there Tuesday.

Related stories:

• Viewers react to loss of Sgt. Edward Philpot
• Member of 218th dies in Afghanistan
• Viewers send condolences after death of Staff Sgt. James David Bullard

Reported by Brandi Cummings with AP

Updated by Logan Smith

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