NJ soldier killed in Afghanistan to be buried

KINNELON, N.J. (AP) -July 17, 2012

Spc. Jonathan Batista grew up in Rutherford and moved to Kinnelon three years ago.

The 22-year-old paratrooper was on his first deployment to Afghanistan when enemy forces attacked his unit with small arms fire in Kandahar province on July 8.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated at Our Lady of the Magnificat Roman Catholic Church in Kinnelon. Batista will be laid to rest in the church cemetery.

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