Collegeville soldier dies in Afghanistan

Staff Sgt. Marc J. Small, an Army Special Forces medic from Collegeville, died Thursday from combat wounds in Afghanistan, according to a statement yesterday by the U.S. Army Special Operations Command in Fort Bragg, N.C.

Small, 29, was on a reconnaissance patrol when insurgents wielding small arms and a rocket-propelled grenade launcher attacked his unit. He was wounded by enemy fire, the Army said.

"We cannot describe our grief," Small's family said in a statement. "But Marc would want everyone to know he died doing what he loved, fighting for his family and for his country."

Small graduated in 1997 from Methacton High School in Worcester Township. He enlisted in December 2004 and was with the Special Forces Operational Detachment-Alpha team, Company B, First Battalion, Third Special Forces Group (Airborne).

In the statement, his family noted that Small had done more in Afghanistan than battle insurgents. He also used his medical training to help Afghans.

"In his short time there, he provided medical treatment to 40 to 50 people per day," the statement said.

Small was killed during a battle near Faramuz, in Oruzgan province, southwest of Kabul in central Afghanistan. He was on his first tour of duty in Afghanistan after being deployed in January.

Small went through basic and advanced training at Fort Benning, Ga. He later received Special Forces training at Fort Bragg and earned his green beret in 2007.

He is survived by his father and stepmother, Murray and Karen; his mother and stepfather, Mary and Peter MacFarland; a brother, Matt; sisters Heather MacFarland Wellock, Jennifer MacFarland and Megan MacFarland; and stepbrothers Travis and Tyler Baney.

He was engaged and planned to get married when he returned from Afghanistan, the family said. "We also want to ask for your thoughts and prayers for Amanda Charney, who Marc loved deeply," the statement said.