An Army sergeant who was shot in combat operations in Badghis province, Afghanistan, on Jan. 13 has died, the Defense Department announced Friday.

Sgt. Cameron Meddock, 26, of Spearman, Texas, died Thursday at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany. He had been assigned to 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington.

According to his hometown newspaper, the High Plains Observer, he leaves behind a wife, Stephanie, who is expecting the couple's first child.

"Sgt. Cameron Meddock is one of America's precious sons," Col. Brandon Tegtmeier, commander of 75th Ranger Regiment, said in a news release. "The entire nation should strive to emulate the warrior, patriot and husband that Cameron was."

Meddock enlisted in the Army in 2014. He was on his second deployment to Afghanistan, where he was serving as a fire team leader. He previously had served as a machine gunner, automatic rifleman and gun team leader, according to U.S. Army Special Operations Command.

"Sergeant Cameron Meddock was a phenomenal Ranger, and his selfless service represents the very best of our great nation," Lt. Col. Rob McChrystal, commander of the 2nd Ranger Battalion, said in the release. "He will be missed dearly, and the 2nd Ranger Battalion offers its sincerest condolences to his family."

Meddock's awards include the Purple Heart and the Army Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters.

-- Patricia Kime can be reached at patricia.kime@military.com. Follow her on Twitter @patriciakime.