KABUL – A U.S. Navy veteran died in Afghanistan last week from a mortarshell, according to NJ.com.
Kevin Yali, 27, first enlisted in the Navy in 2012 and served fourdeployments. He was in Afghanistan as an inactive reservist providingprivate security to American troops when he died on June 19 — less thanthree weeks after he first arrived in Afghanistan.
The Midland Park, New Jersey native is survived by his parents and hisbrothers, Oscar Yali and Victor Patrocino. Those close to him described himas a kind and considerate person.
“He used to see homeless guys sitting on the sidewalk, and he says, ‘Holdon, I’m going to go to Burger King,’” Yali’s mother Daisy said, accordingto ABC-affiliate WABC. “And he went and he bought meals.”
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Yali was friends throughout middle school and high school with Karli Gnhem,the niece of Midland Park Mayor Harry Shortway Jr. Gnhem described Yali assomeone who “really cared about everyone and he was very dedicated toanything he put his heart into.”
