A Calhoun soldier was killed in Afghanistan this weekend.

First Sgt. John Blair, 38, died June 20 in Mado Zayi, Afghanistan when a rocket-propelled grenade struck his vehicle. He was an Army National Guardsman assigned to the 1st Battalion, 121st Infantry Regiment, Lawrenceville.

Katherine Hern, the wife of Staff Sgt. Ryan Hern, said her husband and Blair were in the same platoon and faced the battle together Saturday.

According to Katherine, Ryan said the platoon engaged in an hour-and-a-half long firefight, and that he credited Blair with saving his life. Blair was positioned in front of Ryan, and there was “nothing he could do” to defend him when the grenade struck, his wife said.

Blair was a Gordon County Sheriff’s Deputy and former Drug Task Force officer. The flags at the Gordon Sheriff’s Office and Jail flew at half-staff on Sunday.

Information on memorial services and funeral arrangements will be announced as available.

Another local man, 21-year-old Jeffrey Jordan, was killed in Afghanistan earlier this month. He was part of the Calhoun-based 108th Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Target Acquisition Squadron, 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team of the Georgia Army National Guard.