Kirk, 30, was born in Thomaston, Maine, and moved to Idaho as a child. He later returned to the Rockland area, received his GED from Camden Hills Regional High School, and attended Southern Maine Community College in South Portland. He enlisted in the Army in 2005. Kirk died Oct. 3, 2009, in Kamdesh, Afghanistan, after enemy forces attacked an outpost with rockets, mortars, and machine guns. He was serving his second tour of duty in Afghanistan, was one of eight US soldiers killed in the attack. The men were assigned to the Third Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, Fourth Brigade Combat Team, Fourth Infantry Division, based in Fort Carson, Colo.