NJ soldier dies in Afghanistan

HAMILTON TWP., N.J. - April 15, 2011 (WPVI) -- New Jersey community says goodbye to a native son killed in Afghanistan days after spending time with his family.

26 year old Army Sgt. Keith Buzinski died of wounds he suffered from small arms fire in the Afghan Province of Logar.

He leaves behind a wife, two stepdaughters, his parents and sister.

He was promoted to Sergeant posthumously.

Sgt. Buzinski grew up in Hamilton Township, a neighborhood where yellow ribbons now hand in his honor.

"He served his country, and he was very proud of doing that," said Paul Rementer. "He thought that was a really big thing in his life. And he was very happy serving his country and doing what he did."

Paul Rementer recalled the little blond boy who grew up next door and went to school with his daughter.

Rementer says he saw Sgt. Buzinski a few months ago at a memorial service for Buzinski's grandparents.

"I went to shake his hand. He was in his uniform, and he was there to honor his grandparents, and he wouldn't shake my hand. He gave me a great big hug. He's just a very personable kid, very, very nice kid," Rementer said.

Sgt. Buzinski served in Iraq, and was awarded numerous medals including the Bronze Star and Purple Heart.

He died in Afghanistan just 10 days after enjoying a two week leave with his family in Florida.

"He even said he was a little concerned about Afghanistan that it wasn't like Iraq. He said, Iraq was predictable, where this he saw there were possible problems there," said Rementer.

Keith Buzinski has lived away from New Jersey for some time, but he will be buried in Burlington County on Tuesday with full military honors at the Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Arneytown.

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new jersey, afghanistan, u.s. army, local/state, cathy gandolfo

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