Governor Jerry Brown ordered flags be flown at half-staff above the state capitol in Sacramento Monday in honor of fallen Murrieta soldier Sgt. Eric E. Williams. The 27-year-old died July 23 in Afghanistan.

A statement released by the governor's office read, in part:

On behalf of all Californians, Governor Brown and First Lady Anne Gust Brown honor Sgt. Eric E. Williams, who bravely gave his life in service to ...

Sgt. Eric E. Williams, 27, of Murrieta, California, died July 23, in Pul-E Alam, Afghanistan, according to the Department of Defense. No cause of death was given.

Williams had written a blog since 2008, called My Friend The Medic, about his experiences as a flight medic for the Army.

In his final post, written on July 17th, he expressed concern about the America he was about to return home to ...