The mayor of Utah, Brent Taylor, killed in Afghanistan

A Utah mayor who served in Afghanistan was killed and another member of the military service was wounded in an "insider attack," officials said Sunday.

The mayor of North Ogden, Brent Taylor, Major of the Utah National Guard, was killed Saturday in an insider 's attack while serving with his unit in Kabul, said Major General Jeff Burton, adjutant general of the Utah National Guard. conference Sunday afternoon.

Burton said Taylor, 39, was "a man of excellence" and an "amazing human being" who was killed during his fourth deployment. Taylor leaves behind a woman and seven children, Burton said.

Taylor's desire to serve his country and the many deployments testified to the character of this man and his motivation to preserve the freedom we enjoy as Americans, as well as ourselves, "he added.

Burton said the initial information indicated that the attacker was a member of the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces, who was then immediately killed by other Afghan forces. The other wounded soldier was recovering, he said.

Utah Governor Gary Herbert, a Republican, described Taylor as "the mayor of North Ogden".

"Maj. Brent Taylor was the embodiment of the love of God, his family and his country, "he said.

This was the second such attack in less than two weeks after the killing of an Afghan commando and two other wounded on 22 October.

Spencer Cox, lieutenant governor of the state, said in a post on Twitter Saturday, he was struggling to find words after hearing of Taylor's death.

"I love Mayor Taylor, his amazing wife Jennie and his 7 adorable kids. Utah is crying them today, "he wrote. "This war again cost us the best blood of a generation."

Taylor announced on Facebook in January that he was preparing for a one – year deployment to Afghanistan as part of an advisory team training the staff of an Afghan commando battalion.

"My job as mayor of North Ogden City was one of the highest honors of my life and the highlight of my professional civilian career," he said. "Service is what leadership is all about."

"Three great loyalties have guided my life and all that makes up God, the family and the country," he added.

A biography of Taylor on the North Ogden City website indicates that the mayor has been a National Guard officer for over a decade, including seven years on active service. According to the biography, he did two tours of duty in Iraq and one in Afghanistan before his last deployment.

Taylor became mayor in 2013 after serving on the North Ogden City Council.