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Fort Carson honors 2 killed in friendly fire

FORT CARSON, Colo. - Fort Carson is honoring two of its soldiers who were killed in one of the deadliest friendly fire incidents in Afghanistan.

A memorial service for Cpl. Justin Clouse and Pvt. Aaron Toppen, both members of the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, will be held Thursday. The ceremony will include a rifle squad salute and the playing of Taps.

Clouse was 22 and from the tiny town of Sprague, Washington. He enlisted in the Army shortly after graduating from high school and was on his second tour in Afghanistan.

Toppen was 19 and from Mokena, Illinois outside Chicago. He deployed in March after staying behind for his father's funeral.

Three other soldiers from other posts were also killed in the airstrike, which was called in after their unit was ambushed by the Taliban.

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