DOD Identifies Army Casualties
The Department of Defense announced today the deaths of four soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
They died Sept. 16 in Zabul province, Afghanistan of injuries suffered when their position was attacked with small arms fire.
Killed were:
Sgt. Sapuro B. Nena, 25, of Honolulu, assigned to 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.,
Spc. Joshua N. Nelson, 22, Greenville, N.C., assigned to 202nd Military Intelligence Battalion, 513th Military Intelligence Brigade, Fort Gordon, Ga.,
Pfc. Genaro Bedoy, 20, of Amarillo, Texas, assigned to 52nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., and
Pfc. Jon R. Townsend, 19, Claremore, Okla., assigned to 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.
For more information on Nena, Bedoy and Townsend the media may contact the I Corps public affairs office at 253-477-3048 or after work hours: 253-370-9861.
For more information on Nelson the media may contact the Fort Gordon public affairs office at 706-791-6001.
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Sgt. Sapuro Brightly Nena, 25, of Honolulu,
Hawaii died Sept. 16th, in Zabul Province, Afghanistan. He was assigned
to 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat
Team, 2nd Infa
ntry Division, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.
The DOD news release only stated that the four died “of injuries
suffered when their position was attacked with small arms fire”,
however, multiple news sources including "Stars and Stripes" report that
the deaths were the result of an insider attack (green on blue).
According to unit records, Sgt. Nena entered the Army in May 2008 and
upon completing Army Basic Training and Advanced Individual Training, in
MOS 19K (Armor Crewman) he was assigned to Fort Bliss, Texas. While at
Fort Bliss he deployed to Iraq, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom
from May 2009- 2010. He arrived at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in August
2010 and was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment, 3rd
Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division.
He deployed
to Afghanistan with his brigade in December 2011. This was his first
deployment to Afghanistan. Sgt. Nena’s civilian and military education
includes High School Diploma (2006), Combat Life Savers Course (2010),
Military Occupational Specialty: 19K Armor Crewman (2008).
His
awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal (two awards),
Army Achievement Medal (two awards), Meritorious Unit Citation (two
awards), Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal,
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with campaign star, Iraq Campaign Medal with
campaign star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service
Ribbon, Overseas Ribbon (two awards), NATO Medal, Driver and Mechanic
Badge with Driver – Wheeled Vehicles.
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Specialist Joshua N. Nelson, 22, of
Greenville, N.C., died Sept. 16th, 2012 in Zabul Province, Afghanistan.
He was assigned to D Company, 297th Military Intelligence Battalion,
513th Military Intelligence Brigade, at Fort Gordon, Ga.
The DOD news release only stated that the four died “of injuries
suffered when their position was attacked with small arms fire”,
however, multiple news sources including "Stars and Stripes" report that
the deaths were the result of an insider attack (green on blue).
According to unit records, Nelson entered the Army in March 2011 and
reported to Fort Jackson, S.C. for Army Basic Training. He received his
Advance Individual Training, in MOS 35N (Signals Intelligence analyst)
at Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas. He arrived at Fort Gordon in
December 2011 and was assigned to the D Company, 202nd Military
Intelligence Battalion, then later to D Company, 297th Military
Intelligence Battalion. He deployed to Afghanistan in May. This was
his first deployment.
His awards and decorations include the
National Defense Service Medal, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the Global
War on Terrorism Service Medal, the NATO Medal and the Army Service
Ribbon.
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Pfc. Genaro Bedoy, 20, of Amarillo, Texas,
died Sept. 16th, 2012 in Zabul Province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to
52nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry
Division, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.
The DOD news release only stated that the four died “of injuries
suffered when their position was attacked with small arms fire”,
however, multiple news sources including "Stars and Stripes" report that
the deaths were the result of an insider attack (green on blue), while
responding to a call for assistance by an Afghan Police checkpoint that
was under attack.
Bedoy is survived by a wife and infant child.
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Pfc. Jon R. Townsend, 19, Claremore, Okla.,
died Sept. 16th, in Zabul Province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 1st
Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd
Infantry
Division, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.
A 2011 high school graduate, Townsend married his wife, Brittany, when
he was on leave this spring. The couple spent only a few days together
before he returned to Afghanistan, Townsend’s mother, Karen Nelson told
Tulsa World newspaper.
Washington Time
Kabul Time
London Time
