HONOLULU -- A soldier from Ewa Beach was killed in Afghanistan from an explosion, the Department of Defense said on Tuesday.

Pfc. JR Salvacion, 27, died Sunday at Senjaray, Afghanistan. He suffered injuries from an improvised explosive device, or IED.

Salvacion was part of the 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division at Fort Carson, Colo.

“JR served our nation proudly and he represented all the people of Hawai‘i with honor and distinction," Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona said in a written statement. "We must always honor our service men and women who risk their lives every day to protect the liberty and freedom we have as American citizens."