Sprague soldier Justin Clouse honored

FORT CARSON, Colo. – Commanders and soldiers gathered at Fort Carson on Thursday to honor two soldiers who were killed in one of the deadliest friendly fire incidents in Afghanistan.

The memorial service for Cpl. Justin Clouse and Pfc. Aaron Toppen, both members of the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, included a 21-gun salute and bagpipes playing “Amazing Grace.”

They were killed with three other soldiers in an American airstrike on June 9. It was called in after their unit was ambushed by the Taliban.

Clouse was 22 and from Sprague, Washington. He enlisted in the Army shortly after graduating from high school and was on his second tour in Afghanistan.

Toppen was 19 and from Mokena, Illinois, outside Chicago. He deployed in March after staying behind for his father’s funeral.