MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The U.S. Department of Defense has confirmed the death of a Minnesota Marine serving in Afghanistan.

The department said Tuesday 23-year-old Lance Cpl. Dale Means, of Jordan, died Sunday while conducting combat operations in Helmand province.

Means’ sister, JoLyn Means, said the family was notified that her brother was killed by an improvised explosive device in the southern part of the province.

Dale Means was deployed to Afghanistan in July on his first tour of duty.

Means graduated from New Prague High School in 2007 and married a classmate last year. Dale and Andrea Means lived off-base at Camp Lejeune, N.C. The DOD says Means was assigned to Combat Logistics Regiment 2, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, Marine Expeditionary Force.