The Pentagon announced that an Army soldier was killed in a noncombat-related incident in Afghanistan.
The soldier was identified Thursday as 21-year-old Spc. Branden Kimball of Oregon, who died on Wednesday at Bagram Airfield, the biggest U.S. military base in Afghanistan. Kimball, who is survived by his mother, was assigned to the 10th Combat Aviation Brigade based out of Fort Drum in New York.
Lt. Col. Kamil Sztalkoper, spokesman for the 10th Mountain Division, told the Washington Examiner that Kimball joined the Army in 2016 and was an aircraft structural repairer. During his time in the military, he received a number of honors, including the National Defense Service Medal, an Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of Spc. Branden Kimball during this very difficult time,” Sztalkoper said. “The loss of any mountain soldier has a lasting impact on every member of the team. The 10th Mountain Division mourns the loss of Spc. Kimball. He will be missed from our formations.”
The Department of Defense said that the incident is under investigation and provided no further details about the circumstances of Kimball’s death.
A total of 21 U.S. troops died in Afghanistan last year, 19 in combat and two in what the Pentagon said were “noncombat incidents,” according to a count by the Washington Examiner.
