A U.S. Army Special Forces medical sergeant has died in Afghanistan, U.S. Special Operations Command announced on Monday.
Sgt. 1st Class Elliott J. Robbins, 31, died Sunday, June 30, from non-combat related injuries while deployed to Helmand province, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel.
He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne), out of Fort Carson, Colorado. The Army said the incident is being investigated.
“A skilled Soldier with three combat deployments, Robbins will always be remembered,” Col. Lawrence Ferguson, the 10th Special Forces Group (A) Commander, said, according to a press release.
“We mourn the tragic passing of Sgt. 1st Class Elliott Robbins. The 10th Special Forces Group has paid a heavy toll in recent days. While we mourn, we will support Sgt. 1st Class Robbins’ Family and honor his service,” Ferguson said.
According to U.S. Special Forces Command, “Robbins was born on Aug. 18, 1987, in San Diego. He joined the Army in June 2006 and was assigned to the 101st Airborne Division as an infantryman. He completed the Special Forces Qualification Course and was assigned to 10th SFG (A) in 2016.”
In 2007, Robbins deployed with the 101st Airborne to Iraq, and he later twice deployed to Afghanistan, in 2017 and again in 2019, with the 10th Special Forces Group.
Robbins’ awards and decorations include: the Army Commendation Medal with Combat Device and one Oak Leaf Cluster, the Army Achievement Medal with one Silver and two Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters, the Valorous Unit Award, the Army Good Conduct Medal with Bronze Four Knot Device, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, the Iraq Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon with Numeral 2, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon with Numeral 2, the NATO Medal, Special Forces Tab, Ranger Tab, Combat Infantryman Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, Military Freefall Parachutist Badge and Parachutist Badge.
