Family and friends are mourning the loss of Theodore Roosevelt High School graduate Adam Hamilton, 22, of Kent, who was killed while on patrol in Afghanistan Saturday.

Hamilton, a 2007 Theodore Roosevelt graduate, died in Haji Ruf, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device, according to the Department of Defense. Military officials confirmed Hamilton's death Sunday.

Hamilton was assigned to the 4th Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, out of Fort Riley, Kan.

His death prompted friends to hold a candlelight vigil late Sunday night at the high school — hours before the start of the Memorial Day holiday.

Friends and family also filled his Facebook page with farewell messages. Though posted in Afghanistan, Hamilton had written on his Facebook wall as recent as three days ago. One post lamented sandstorms.

"Hate sandstorms!" he wrote. "Hopefully a month till i get a break from this ... still praying and thanking god every morning and night before i go to bed to still let me be here and fight this fight."

Hamilton anticipated a break from duty in July, according to his Facebook posts. He is one of the few Kent residents to die while serving overseas in recent years.

Other coverage of Hamilton's death:

• WOIO: Four Northeast Ohio service men killed in Afghanistan
• WEWS: Difficult Memorial Day Ahead for some Northeast Ohio Communities...
• Record-Courier: Roosevelt grad killed in Afghanistan