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Updated 07/12/2012 07:07 AM

North Austin high school remembers fallen soldier

By: YNN Staff

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A North Austin high school is remembering a former student who died in Afghanistan Saturday.

Officials say 23-year-old Cpl. Juan Navarro died Saturday in Kandahar after he was attacked with an improvised explosive device, or IED.

Navarro was stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord near Tacoma, Washington. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.

When news of his death reached Austin, students and teachers from Lanier High school filled his Facebook page with memorials and messages.

YNN got a chance to speak with the band director who taught Navarro. He said Juan was a great addition to the school's drumline.

"[He was a] very funny kid, very popular. As I said before, you could always leave it up to Juan to make you laugh. He was a very, very funny guy. You know he could have probably done comedy too," Former Lanier High School Band Director Jimmy Spencer said.

Navarro’s family says he only had a few more months left to serve in Afghanistan. They said he was planning on going to college next year.