A Long Island soldier was killed in a truck bombing in Afghanistan, only the second time an East Ender has died in combat since 9/11.
Army Lt. Joseph Theinert, 24, of the 71st Cavalry Regiment, died Thursday in his first tour of duty overseas.
Flags flew at half mast yesterday on Shelter Island, his hometown, as friends and family recalled a young man who was a cross-country, basketball and lacrosse star in prep school.
“He was the perfect all-American kid,” said Jimmy Rando. “He lived and died for what he believed in.”
Theinert, whose stepdad, Frank Kestler, is in the Army Reserves and served in Afghanistan, had been in Kandahar just over a month.
“He’ll be remembered as a hero but, more importantly, a friend,” said Laurene Silvani, who had known Theinert since childhood.
Marine Lance Cpl. Jordan Haerter, 19, of Sag Harbor, was killed in Ramadi, Iraq, in 2008.