LDS sailor is war casualty
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An American LDS sailor recently lost his life while serving in Afghanistan.
Killed was U.S. Navy Lt. j.g. Francis L. Toner IV of Narragansett, R.I. A convert to the Church, Brother Toner died March 27 when an Afghan National Army soldier opened fire on him and other military personnel assigned to Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan at Camp Shaheen, Mazar-E-Sharif, Afghanistan, according to the U.S. Department of Defense.
Brother Toner, 26, had been in Afghanistan for six months.
An outstanding athlete, he grew up in California and attended the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in New York. There he played football and lacrosse, claimed an engineering degree and joined the Church.
While in school he also met his future wife, Brooke Dueling. The two later married in the San Diego California Temple. After graduation, Brother Toner was commissioned an officer in the U.S. Navy.
Sister Toner remembered her husband as the sort of man who bettered the lives of all he met.
"He is everything that can be good about a person," she said. "He never judges anyone. He is spiritual. He's funny."
Brother Toner's former branch president, Ralph Weidler, remembered the fallen sailor as a strong priesthood holder and faithful member.
Brother Toner was buried with full military honors on April 16 in Arlington National Cemetery.
