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Plant City High graduate dies in Afghanistan

The Associated Press

An Army carry team carries the transfer case containing the remains of Army Spc. Eric N. Lembke, of Plant City, during a dignified transfer ceremony Sunday at Dover Air Force Base, Del. The Department of Defense announced the death of Spc. Eric N. Lembke who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.

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By JOSÉ PATIÑO GIRONA | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 25, 2009

Updated: 10/25/2009 07:56 am

A soldier from Plant City died last week while serving in Afghanistan.

U.S. Army Spec. Eric Lembke's body was returned to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware on Sunday.

Lembke, 25, was raised in Plant City and graduated from Plant City High School.

"It's very hard. We were so close, all of us," said family friend Janet Llamas of Colorado Springs, Colo. "He is going to be missed. He is really a great soldier."

Llamas met Lembke and his wife, Mashalle, in August 2008 — two months after the Army transferred the Lembkes to Colorado Springs. Lembke joined the Army two years ago, Llamas said.

Llamas' husband, Angel, was in the same unit as Lembke. They were deployed Feb. 14, and their tour was to end in 2010, she said.

Lembke's job in Afghanistan was to help find hidden bombs and detonate them, Llamas said. He was killed by an improvised explosive device while on a routine mission, she said.

Llamas became close to both Lembkes and their two children, Alexis, 7, and Nathaniel, 3. She said they were down to earth and willing to help anyone in need.

"He is a very caring guy," Llamas said. "He tries to help. He is a loving father."

Llamas said Mashalle Lembke is trying to be strong under difficult circumstances. Sunday, she was in Delaware to view her husband's body. She is supposed to return to Colorado today and her children. Lembke will be buried in Florida.

"She said, 'He loved his job, and he died doing a job that he loved,'" Llamas said.

Lembke, was taken in as a foster child by Dorothy Lembke when he was 13, said his brother, Robert Lembke of Denver. She adopted him when he was 17, he said.

Robert Lembke, 46, said he and his brother didn't have a close connection when Eric was younger. But Robert and his wife, Mary, lived in Plant City from 2004 to 2007 and got to know him.

He worked at a Plant City grocery store and was very devoted to family life, they said.

"His family was the most important thing to him," Mary Lembke said. "As young as he was, he took very good care of his family."

Reporter José Patiño Girona can be reached at (813) 259-7659.

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