Kaneohe sailor dies fighting in Afghanistan

His parents say the Navy petty officer died from gunshot wounds to his chest

A Kaneohe-based Navy petty officer died Tuesday in Afghanistan.

The U.S. Department of Defense said Petty Officer 3rd Class Mark R. Cannon, 31, of Lubbock, Texas, died from wounds he received while conducting combat operations in Kunar province.

His parents told the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal that their son died from gunshot wounds to his chest.

Cannon was a hospital corpsman assigned to 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, at Marine Corps Base Hawaii.

He is the first member of the unit to die in Afghanistan.

Cannon's is the 31st Hawaii-related death in Afghanistan since 2004.

He reported to Hawaii in November 2005 and had been on previous deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan.

His awards include the Purple Heart, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Navy Good Conduct Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal and Iraq Campaign Medal.