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FAIRBANKS -- An Army Ranger who was born and raised in Fairbanks has died of injuries he sustained last week while serving in Afghanistan.
Special Forces Army Ranger Joel D. Clarkson, 23, was wounded March 12 by small-arms fire while his unit was on patrol in Helmland province. He was assigned to A Company, 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. Clarkson was operated on in Afghanistan, then flown to Germany for additional treatment. This was his third tour of duty out of Fort Lewis, according to a family member. Gov. Sean Parnell, in a statement Friday evening confirming Clarkson's death, ordered state flags to be flown at half-staff on Tuesday. Clarkson is survived by his wife, Cassandra; 9-month-old son, Orion; and his parents, Karen and Steve Clarkson of Fairbanks.