Bruno G De Solenni

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CRESCENT CITY, CA, USA U.S. Army CPT, JOINT FORCES HEADQUARTERS, ELEMENT TRAINING TEAM, SALEM, OR KANDAHAR, AFGHANISTAN 09/20/2008

A 32-year-old Crescent City man serving with the Oregon Army National Guard in Afghanistan died when an explosive device detonated near his vehicle Saturday.

Captain Bruno Giancarlo de Solenni died near Kandahar along with two Afghan interpreters when an improvised explosive device detonated next to his vehicle, the Oregon Army National Guard reported Tuesday.

Two other soldiers were wounded in the attack, which occurred as their unit was returning to a Kandahar air field.

Bruno de Solenni, who enlisted into the National Guard in 1996, graduated from high school in Del Norte County. He was scheduled to return to the United States in December.

“Captain Bruno (de Solenni) is a shining example of the determination and courage that makes our nation strong,” Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said in a release Tuesday. “He was a brave American and his commitment to defending democracy and freedom will never be forgotten. Maria and I join all Californians in sending our deepest condolences to Bruno’s family and friends as they mourn this tremendous loss.”

The Governor’s Office said Capitol flags will be flown half-staff to honor Bruno de Solenni.

Bruno de Solenni was previously assigned with his unit to Sinai, Egypt, and he later volunteered for service in Iraq. According to Oregon National Guard information, in 2007 he was reassigned to an embedded training team, with which he helped train Afghan forces in the Helmand

Province in south Afghanistan. He had reportedly been stationed in Afghanistan for seven months before his death.

Bruno’s portrait is also located on Poster 7