A 22-year-old Sherman resident and New Fairfield High School graduate killed while serving in Afghanistan with the New York Air National Guard will receive one of the military's highest honors.

Staff Sgt. Todd "T.J." Lobraico died in Afghanistan in September 2013 when enemy forces attacked his unit. He was a member of the 105th Airlift Wing.

"With total disregard for his own safety he placed himself directly between his fire team and the insurgents who unleashed a hellish barrage of rocket, grenade, and small arms fire," the New York State Division of Military & Naval Affairs wrote in a press release Thursday. "Sergeant Lobraico took immediate and decisive actions while braving this intense enemy fire, and was mortally wounded while directing the maneuver of his fire team to covered positions from which they could effectively defend themselves and return fire on the enemy positions."

For that reason, Lobraico will receive a posthumous Bronze Star Medal with Valor, the military's fourth-highest individual honor and ninth-highest by order of precedence. He'll be honored Saturday at the Stewart Air National Guard Base in New York.

The Bronze Star Medal is awarded for "acts of heroism, acts of merit, or meritorious service in a combat zone," according to the New York State Division of Military & Naval Affairs.

"Sergeant Lobraico's remarkable heroism, valorous actions and selfless commitment to his fellow Defenders resulted in the removal of numerous insurgents from the battle field at the cost of his own life," military officials said in the news release.

Lobraico graduated from New Fairfield High School in 2008 and was a four-year member of the Future Business Leaders of America.

His stepmother worked as assistant tax collector in New Fairfield and his father is an officer with the Stamford Police Department, according to New Fairfield town officials.

Family members said Lobraico's mother is a lieutenant colonel with the Air Force and his stepfather is a doctor with Physician One Urgent Care.