The Department of Defense has identified the three American service members who were killed in an IED explosion in Afghanistan on Nov. 27. The service members were supporting Operation Freedom Sentinel and the casualties were the worst loss of life for American forces in Afghanistan so far in 2018, according to The New York Times.
Army Captain Andrew Patrick Ross, 29, of Lexington, Virginia, Army Sgt. 1st Class Eric Michael Emond, 39, of Brush Prairie, Washington and Air Force Staff Sgt. Dylan J. Elchin, 25, of Hookstown, Pennsylvania were identified as the fallen service members.
Ross and Emond were both assigned to the 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) in Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
“Andrew and Eric were invaluable members and leaders in 3rd Special Forces Group and the special operations community,” Col. Nathan Prussian, commander of the 3rd Special Forces Group, said in a statement. “Our most heartfelt condolences go out to the families of these brave men.”
Elchin was a special tactics combat controller with the 26th Special Tactics Squadron at Cannon Air Force Base in New Mexico. He was embedded with a U.S. Army team in Afghanistan.
“Dylan had an unusual drive to succeed and contribute to the team. He displayed maturity and stoicism beyond his years, and was always level-headed, no matter the situation,” Lt. Col. Gregory Walsh, commander of the 26th Special Tactics Squadron, said in a statement. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to Dylan’s family, fiancé, and friends. He will be sorely missed, but never forgotten.”
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Elchin enlisted in the Air Force in 2012, shortly after graduating from high school. He was a qualified military static line jumper, free fall jumper, an Air Force qualified combat scuba diver and a qualified joint terminal attack controller. Elchin received numerous awards and decorations, including the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star Medal.
Army Captain Andrew Ross had more than seven years of service in the Army and was on his second overseas tour. He receivied numerous awards and decorations during his career and was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal and the Combat Infantry Badge. Ross is survived by his wife and parents.
Army Sgt. 1st Class Eric Emond had more than 21 years of service in the Marine Corps and the Army. Emond was a native of Boston and is survived by his wife and three children. He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart and Meritorious Service Medal. Emond receivied numerous other awards and decorations during his military career.
The three service members were killed less than a week after an Army Sergeant also supporting Operation Freedom Sentinel was killed in Afghanistan. The Department of Defense said Sgt. Leandro A.S. Jasso, 25, from Leavenworth, Washington was killed Nov. 24.
Pictured from left to right: Sgt. 1st Class Eric Emond, Army Captain Andrew Ross and Air Force Staff Sgt. Dylan Elchin (Photos of Emond and Ross via USSOCOM, photo of Elchin via 24th Special Operations Wing)