A U.S. Army carry team transfers the remains of Army Sgt. Enrique Mondragon, of The Colony, Texas, at Dover Air Force Base, Del., Dec. 25, 2012. (U.S. Air Force photo/Roland Balik)

THE COLONY (CBSDFW.COM) – A soldier from North Texas died on Christmas Eve while defending his country.

The Pentagon says U.S. Army Sergeant Enrique Mondragon of The Colony was killed Monday while on patrol near Kabul, Afghanistan.

Mondragon was assigned to the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team based in Germany.

The Pentagon says the 23-year-old’s unit was attacked by small arms fire.

His body was flown back to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware Wednesday.  Funeral services are pending.

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