A U.S. Army Captain based at Fort Riley, Kansas has been killed in action in Afghanistan.

The Department of Defense announced today the death Capt. James D. Nehl, 37, of Gardiner, Ore.

The Pentagon says Nehl died Nov. 9, in Ghazni Province, Afghanistan, from small arms fire while on patrol during combat operations.

He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kan.