The U.S. Department of Defense has confirmed the death of a young Marine from Rochester serving in Afghanistan.

The military said 20-year-old Lance Cpl. Curtis Swenson died Friday while supporting combat operations in Helmand province. He was a mortarman with Weapons Company in the 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment based at Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii.

The DOD said Swenson’s unit deployed in November to conduct counterinsurgency operations in partnership with Afghan National Security Forces. Swenson also served in Iraq in 2008.

Rochester Mayo High School Principal Tim Dorway said Swenson was a 2007 graduate of the school, a good student and very well liked. Mayo guidance counselor Darcy Lindquist said Swenson always wanted to join the Marines, which he did right after graduating.