The Defense Department now confirms the death of a soldier from southwestern Iowa in Afghanistan.

In a news release, the Pentagon reported that  Pfc. Brandon L. Buttry, 19, of Shenandoah, Iowa, died Nov. 5, in Kandahar province, Afghanistan.

Steve Buttry, of Herndon, Va., says his nephew, Pfc. Brandon Buttry, of Shenandoah, was killed while manning a watch tower.

Buttry’s parents, Don and Pam Buttry, of Shenandoah, were informed Monday morning.

Steve Buttry says they were told there were “multiple casualties.”  The news release from the Defense Department does not indicate any other casualties in the incident.

Brandon Buttry was one of 14 children. His uncle says he enlisted in the Army. He graduated from basic training at Fort Benning, Ga., and was transferred to Fort Lewis in Washington state. He was deployed to Afghanistan in August.