A 25-year-old infantry soldier from Honolulu was among four soldiers killed in Afghanistan Sunday when they were attacked at a checkpoint by Afghan soldiers, the Pentagon reported today.

Sgt. Sapuro B. Nena died in Zabul province of injuries suffered when his position was attacked with small arms fire. Nena was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. 

The Army at Fort Lewis said Nena enlisted in the Army in May 2008. He deployed to Iraq in 2009 with a Fort Bliss unit. This was his first deployment to Afghanistan where he had been stationed since December.

Nena’s awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal (two awards), Army Achievement Medal (two awards), Meritorious Unit Citation (two awards), Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with campaign star, Iraq Campaign Medal with campaign star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Ribbon (two awards) and NATO Medal.

The Pacific Daily News today reported that Nena’s wife was living on Guam and has left the island for Dover Air Force Base in Delaware where her husband’s body is being flown to. 

Also killed in the same attack were Spc. Joshua N. Nelson, 22, Greenville, N.C., assigned to 202nd Military Intelligence Battalion, 513th Military Intelligence Brigade, at Fort Gordon, Ga., and Pfc. Genaro Bedoy, 20, of Amarillo, Texas, assigned to 52nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.

A NATO spokesman said earlier that Afghan police turned on soldiers during an attack at a checkpoint.