A 25-year-old combat engineer from Flint has been killed in an insurgent attack in Afghanistan.

WJRT-TV says Sgt. 1st Class Joseph Lilly was part of the 18th Engineer Company from Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state.

Lilly's aunt Martha Alexander says her nephew was on patrol Tuesday when he injured by an improvised explosive device. She says he died Thursday on a medical flight from Afghanistan to Germany.

Lilly was a graduate of Carman Ainsworth High School and was on his first tour of duty in Afghanistan. Alexander says her nephew also served a tour in Iraq.

He's survived by a wife and 3-year-old son.

The News Tribune of Tacoma, Wash., says Lilly is the third engineer from Joint Base Lewis-McChord killed in Afghanistan within a week.