NORFOLK -- A sailor initially based on the Norfolk-based USS Iwo Jima died in Afghanistan.

Aviation Ordnanceman Airman Darren Ethan Tate, 21, of Canyon, Texas, contracted pneumonia while part of a training team in Afghanistan.

He was taken to Bagram Air Base, where he died July 8.

He was originally assigned to USS Iwo Jima, but he left the ship in August 2008 to begin training for Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan. The team does training of host nation military and civilian.

Tate joined the Navy in June 2006; went from recruit training to technical traning command. He arrived aboard USS Iwo Jima in December 2006.

The ship is planning memorial service aboard USS Iwo Jima. She's overseas left in June.

Tate's body is expected to arrive at Dover Air Force Base Thursday evening, a federal government source tells 13News.