A Fort Drum soldier was killed in a noncombat-related incident while serving in Afghanistan.
The Department of Defense announced Friday that Pfc. Joshua Mikeasky, 19, of Johnstown, Pa., near Pittsburgh, died Thursday at Bagram Airfield, Bagram District, Parwan Province in Afghanistan.
Pfc. Mikeasky served as a health care specialist assigned to Fort Drum’s 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division. He is survived by his mother and father.
DoD has identified the soldier who died in a non-combat related incident in Afghanistan as 19-year-old Pfc. Joshua Mikeasky. pic.twitter.com/QBKHMyoIJq
— Paul Szoldra (@PaulSzoldra) December 14, 2018
The incident is under investigation.
At Jefferson Community College on Friday night to give a commencement speech, Maj. Gen. Walter E. Piatt, senior commander of Fort Drum and the 10th Mountain Division, said that details about the incident have not yet emerged.
“It’s the saddest part of my job,” he said. “You can imagine at this time of the year, losing a loved one.”
He mentioned that 10th Mountain Division soldiers are deployed many times during their careers.
“The sun never sets on the 10th Mountain patch,” he said, noting the tragedy involving the loss of such a young person.
Army soldier, 19, from Johnstown, Pennsylvania, died in non-combat incident in Afghanistan. Army Pfc. Joshua Mikeasky was a health care specialist. https://t.co/kj2WtGlOnp pic.twitter.com/nC4i8gcEZk
— Niraj Warikoo (@nwarikoo) December 15, 2018
In October, Pfc. Mikeasky’s unit arrived in Afghanistan, where it is supporting NATO’s Resolute Support mission and the U.S.-led Operation Freedom’s Sentinel training and advising Afghan security forces.
Pfc. Mikeasky joined the Army in September 2017 and followed Basic Combat Training and Advanced Individual Training.
Pfc. Mikeasky’s awards and decorations include the National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, the NATO Medal and the Army Service Ribbon.
Pfc. Mikeasky’s death marked the 15th American service member to die in Afghanistan this year.
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© 2018 Watertown Daily Times (Watertown, N.Y.)
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