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SALT LAKE CITY – Brent Taylor, Mayor of North Ogden and Major of the Utah Army National Guard, was killed in Afghanistan on Saturday.
"He was my best friend," said Pleasant View Mayor Toby Mileski. The two became mayors of neighboring cities at the same time and were political allies, but "we are above all the best friends in the world".
"I probably spent more time with him than with my wife," he said.
Mileski was devastated by the news of Taylor's death.
"At the end of the day, he was going to serve his country, for what he loved and lived," he said. "He was going to help release other people so that they could enjoy democracy."
Taylor, 39, has been deployed for what should be one year of service in January. He took leave from his mayor position and the unprecedented roll-out rule of Utah's election law was put in place, appointing Brent Chugg as acting mayor. Taylor has also resigned from his position as a member of the Utah Transit Authority's board of directors during his deployment.
"We are fighting," North Ogden City spokesman Jon Call said on Saturday. He added that no project had yet been prepared to commemorate the mayor, elected for the first time in 2013 and re-elected in 2017. He asked the public to keep Taylor's wife, Jennie, and seven children in their thoughts.
A statement released by the city praised Taylor's service and offered his condolences to his family.
"Throughout North Ogden, you can see his profound influence, he had a great love and vision for this community, he was deeply patriotic and was a shining example of what an American politician should be," he said. in the statement.
Mileski said his family "is suffering a lot."
"I lost my best friend, she lost a husband and her best friend, the children lost a great father," he said. "So, it must be much worse for them than for me."
National media reported that one member of the service had been killed and another wounded in "an insider attack" at the Kabul military training center on Saturday afternoon, when a member of the forces Afghan security forces opened fire on them, officials at the Washington Post said. The attacker was later killed by Afghan forces.
Military officials are still investigating the incident.
"What we are doing for our country is a very dangerous affair, but it is important to remember why we do it," said Major General Jefferson S. Burton, Adjutant General of the Utah National Guard. "The threat is real, let no one forget the service and sacrifice of those brave men and women who defend our nation."
According to a statement from the Utah National Guard, Taylor was "a skilled professional, fully committed to community, country and mission".
The mayor's deployment was part of an order by President Donald Trump to increase the US presence and train Afghan commandos. It was his fourth deployment in Taylor's 15 years of service.
In the end, he was going to serve his country, for which he loved and lived. He was going to help liberate other people so that they could enjoy democracy.
-Pleasant View, Mayor Toby Mileski
Mileski said that Taylor was sad at the time of leaving his family and a newborn, but "he was a soldier and he did not show it".
"It was red, white and blue," Mileski said. "He was american."
He added that both of them had recently discussed Taylor's ambitions to become a state government leader, perhaps even a lieutenant governor or governor.
"I often asked him," Why are you doing this? Why are you doing this? You have these little kids, "Mileski said. Taylor did not stop telling his friend that he and his wife had agreed on military service from the start.
Taylor told the Deseret News in January that his wife knew he was determined to serve his country from the first date.
In recent weeks, Mileski said Taylor would talk about what he was doing in Afghanistan, preparing soldiers for combat.
"He never said:" I'm afraid for my life, "he said." He was there to do good. "
Hatch on the death of North Ogden Mayor Brent Taylor:
"Brent was a hero, a patriot, a wonderful father and a dear friend. The news of his death in Afghanistan is devastating. My prayers and love go to Jennie and her 7 young children. We will always remember his service. " pic.twitter.com/UHHbhTciYo
– Senator Hatch's Office (@senorrinhatch) November 3, 2018
Taylor regularly followed the people of North Ogden via a Facebook page that he had created before he left. He also shared photos and experiences with thousands of followers.
The Utah National Guard will release more details about the incident that took Taylor's life at a press conference including Burton and Utah's governor, Gary Herbert, on Sunday.
"My heart is broken by the loss and sacrifice of our soldier, especially for the family," said Burton. "I wish them all the comfort and courage to face the difficult days ahead."
Senator from Utah, Orrin Hatch says on Twitter that his "prayers and love go to Jennie and (Taylor) seven young children".
"Brent was a hero, a patriot, a wonderful father and a dear friend," Hatch said. "We will always remember his service."
Stars and Stripes, an American military publication, reported on Saturday that there had been 56 insider attacks among Afghan forces this year, leaving 121 dead and some wounded.
Taylor and his five brothers all joined the army in the years following September 11th. He added that he had never intended to be a career soldier and that he "was engaged as a volunteer in the wars". After years of varied assignments, he stated that he would remain in the army until his retirement.
"It's unfortunate," Mileski said, adding that he would most likely miss Taylor. "We lost one of the very good ones, everyone will miss it."
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