National Guard Staff Sgt. Killed In Afghanistan

Sonora, CA — A Staff Sgt. that once resided in Tuolumne County has died while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

The Department of Defense states that Staff Sgt. Vincent W. Ashlock, 45, was killed in a non-combat related incident on December 4th in Khost province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 890th Battalion, 168th Engineer Brigade out of Lucedale, Mississippi. No further information has been released about his death.

Staff Sgt. Ashlock was a longtime resident of Groveland, and also lived in Sonora for a time, according to family members. Most recently Staff Sgt. Ashlock and his family resided in Seaside, CA.