Cody Towse, 21, died when an improvised explosive device detonated. A Department of Defense news release says the soldiers were in Sanjaray, Afghanistan, at the time. A graduate of Salem High School, the younger Towse chose the Army in 2011 over serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Although the decision disappointed his parents some, Jim Towse said his son wanted to serve in the military in wartime because he believed he could use his skills as a certified EMT and volunteer firefighter to save lives.