By Associated Press
Decatur, AL – A 22-year-old Decatur soldier has been killed while serving in Afghanistan.
The family of Staff Sgt. Josh Rath was notified of his death Thursday evening at their home.
His father, Leroy Rath, confirmed Monday morning that Rath's body has arrived at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware. He will be flying to the base Tuesday to join his son's body.
Rath will fly home with his son after the autopsy is completed and his body is released, which is standard procedure in the U.S. Army when soldiers are killed in battle. Their return date has not been released yet. Rath joined the Army after graduating from Austin High School in Decatur in 2004.
He was scheduled to be released from the Army in December but was deployed to Afghanistan in July.
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)