Marine from Winder dies in combat

WINDER - The Department of Defense says a 24-year-old Marine from Winder was killed in Afghanistan.

Defense officials say Lance Cpl. Joseph R. Giese died Friday during combat operations in Helmand province. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, based in Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Giese joined the Marine Corps in July 2007 and was promoted to lance corporal in September 2008. He served in Iraq from September 2008 to April 2009.

He had served in Afghanistan since July.