"North Adams soldier killed in Afghanistan
A 20-year-old North Adams native died near Panjwai, Afghanistan, on Thursday of wounds sustained from an explosive device, US Army officials said. Private First Class Michael R. Demarsico II joined the Army in February 2011 and received basic training in Fort Benning, Ga, before arriving at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, a combined Army and Air Force base, according to a statement from the base. He was sent to Afghanistan in December 2011, his first deployment, the statement said."