A 20-year-old Kaneohe Marine who had been in Afghanistan for less than a month was killed Saturday.

The Pentagon announced today that Lance Cpl. Joshua R. Whittle, 20, of Downey, Calif., died while supporting combat operations in Helmand province.

He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, which left Kaneohe last month.

He is the fourth  service member, but the first Marine with Hawaii ties to die in Afghanistan this year.