Locally-based Sailor dies in Afghan.

WASHINGTON - The Department of Defense announced Thursday the death of a locally-based sailor who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Aviation Ordnanceman Airman Darren Ethan Tate, 21, of Canyon, Texas died of non-hostile causes on July 8 at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan.   A U.S. Navy spokesperson told WAVY.com Tate died of pneumonia.

Tate, who  was assigned to the Norfolk-based USS Iwo Jima, was deployed as an Individual Augmentee to Combined Security Transition Command - Afghanistan.   According the the spokesperson, Tate volunteered to go to Afghanistan and was assigned to an embedded training team there.

Tate reported to the Iwo Jima in December, 2006.  He left the ship to begin training for his volunteer assignment in August, 2008.

The Iwo Jima is currently out at sea.