The U.S. Army announced on Monday that a soldier critically injured while assigned to the failed Gaza pier mission, which supported the delivery of aid to Palestinians impacted by the war between Israel and Hamas earlier this year, died last week.
According to CNN, 23-year-old Sgt. Quandarius Davon Stanley, who died on October 31, was one of three U.S. military members injured in non-combat related incidents during the Gaza pier mission. The outlet noted that the other two service members returned to duty after suffering minor injuries during the mission.
CNN reported that Stanley served with the 7th Transportation Brigade Expeditionary at Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Virginia. According to the outlet, the 23-year-old joined the Army in July of 2020 as a motor transport operator. CNN cited an anonymous defense official who confirmed that Stanley was medically retired by the Transportation Brigade Expeditionary in October due to his critical injuries preventing him from continuing his service in the military.
Capt. Shkeila Milford-Glover, a 3rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command spokesperson, said, “Stanley was injured while supporting the mission that delivered humanitarian aid to Gaza in May 2024 and was receiving treatment in long-term care medical center.”
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CNN reported that while it has not yet been revealed how Stanley was injured during the Gaza pier mission, Stanley’s injury was confirmed in May by Vice Adm. Bradley Cooper, deputy commander of U.S. Central Command. At the time, Cooper told reporters that an individual was “undergoing care at an Israeli local hospital. He was injured out on a ship at sea.”
Following his injury, Stanley was transported back to the United States in June and was treated at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas.
Reflecting on Stanley’s service to the United States, Col. John “Eddie” Gray, commander of the 7th Transportation Brigade Expeditionary, said, “Sgt Quandarius Stanley was an instrumental and well respected first line leader in the 7th Transportation Brigade Expeditionary (TBX), especially during the mission to provide humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza. We will continue to provide support to his family during this difficult time. Our entire unit mourns alongside his family.”
According to Fox News, the Gaza pier mission was launched by the Biden-Harris administration in an attempt to help aid be shipped and distributed in Gaza. The outlet reported that the Gaza pier effort, which began in May and ended in July, cost roughly $230 million and was plagued with bad weather and various miscalculations. The New York Post noted that the Gaza pier only was in operation for 20 days.
Pictures of the Gaza Pier mission and Stanley have been shared on X, formerly Twitter.
