A Navy hospital corpsman attached to a Marine unit at Kane'ohe was killed Monday during combat operations in Afghanistan, the Pentagon announced yesterday.

Petty Officer 3rd Class John T. Fralish, 30, of New Kingstown, Pa., died when enemy forces opened fire on his unit as it patrolled northwest of Methar Lam in Laghman province, the Pentagon said.

Fralish was the second casualty since the arrival last month of the 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment from Marine Corps Base Hawai'i. About 900 Marines and sailors are on a scheduled seven-month Afghanistan deployment.

His brother, Christian Fralish, 18, said by telephone from New Kingstown yesterday that the family was notified Monday.

The Navy told the family that Fralish and his unit were on a reconnaissance mission on foot in the Gownapal Valley when they were ambushed, Christian Fralish said.

"There was small-arms fire," he said. "He was shot in the upper chest, below his right clavicle."

Fralish was taken by helicopter to Bagram Airfield where he was pronounced dead at the combat hospital, his brother said.

Fralish was not married and did not have any children, his brother said. He was the third-oldest of six brothers and sisters.

Fralish's brother said funeral plans are pending.

Family friend Chris Tiney, 21, also of New Kingstown, said Fralish was interested in cars and playing rugby.

"He liked to help people," Tiney said. "He was looking into trying to be a Navy SEAL."

Fralish joined the Navy in 2002 and reported to Hawai'i in July 2005.

The unit that Fralish was attached to was hit hard in Iraq in late 2004 and early 2005. Eight Marines from the 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment were killed in a suicide car bomb attack, 26 Marines and a sailor perished in a helicopter crash, and 11 others also were killed — most of them in what has become known as the Battle of Fallujah.

Reach Mike Gordon at mgordon@honoluluadvertiser.com.