A Fort Carson soldier died on Sunday, about a month after he was injured during an explosion in Kabul, Afghanistan’s capital.

Sgt. Mark H. Schoonhoven, a newlywed from Plainwell, Mich., died at Brooke Army Medical Center at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, according to the Department of Defense. He was 38.

“The whole family’s taking it hard,” said Mark Schoonhoven’s uncle, Roy Schoonhoven. “But we all understand. This is what Mark wanted to do. And he knew that he was doing good for his country and for his people.”

Schoonhoven was about a month into his third deployment to Afghanistan on Dec. 15 when enemy forces attacked his unit with a bomb. He was a vehicle driver with the 32nd Transportation Company, 43rd Sustainment Brigade of the 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson said.

Mark Schoonhoven married shortly before his deployment to Afghanistan, Roy Schoonhoven said.

The sergeant had deployed to Afghanistan from January 2007 through March 2008 and from April 2009 through June 2010.

He received numerous commendations since joining the Army on Jan. 10, 2006, including the Army Commendation Medal.

“He was good father and good husband,” said Roy Schoonhoven, of Portage, Mich. “He’s a good man.”

Schoonhoven is the 82nd soldier from Fort Carson to die in Afghanistan. Another 258 troops from Fort Carson died in Iraq.

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Sgt. Mark Schoonhoven Photo by Courtesy of Fort Carson