FORT BRAGG, N.C.-- A Green Beret with Oklahoma ties has died after he was attacked in Afghanistan, the Department of Defense said.

Sgt. Jason T. Palmerton, 25, of Auburn, Neb., died Saturday in Qal’eh-Yegaz, Afghanistan. He was based at Fort Bragg.

He came under enemy fire during a foot patrol, the military said Tuesday, but no other details were released. The military described him as a communications sergeant.

Palmerton was assigned to 1st Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group, and had been in Afghanistan just six weeks. He enlisted on July 31, 2002.

Palmerton was born in Hamburg, Iowa, and grew up in Nebraska. He graduated from Auburn High School in 1998.

He is the 23rd U.S. service member with connections to Nebraska to have died in Afghanistan and Iraq since the beginning of military operations, according to the Department of Defense and family members.

Palmerton is survived by his mother, Denise Brown of Auburn; father, Steve Palmerton of Norman, Okla.; and sisters, Elizabeth Schlange of Auburn, Amanda Palmerton of Omaha and Chelsea Palmerton of Norman.

He was engaged to be married to Shelley Austin, a native of North Carolina.