Soldier killed in Afghanistan gets posthumous promotion

SAVANNAH - A Ranger killed in the mountains of Afghanistan has been given a posthumous promotion due to his actions in combat. <br> <br> Matthew Commons&#39; parents will be presented with his corporal&#39;s stripes in Alexandria, Va., on Thursday. <br> <br> Commons, 21, was private first class when he was deployed to fight in Operation Anaconda. His commanders awarded the promotion due to his performance as a Ranger, said Capt. Josh Davis, a spokesman for the 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment at Hunter Army Airfield. <br> <br> The presentation will be made by a Ranger who escorted Commons body to the United States from Afghanistan, said Greg Commons, the slain Ranger&#39;s father. <br> <br> ``That means a lot,&#39;&#39; Commons said Wednesday night when he learned about the promotion. <br> <br> Davis said details on Commons&#39; role in the battle were not available but said the promotion was combat-related.