Defense Secretary Ash Carter honored the Army Reserve soldier who was killed in the Orlando nightclub attack, according to a Facebook post late Tuesday.
“Capt. Antonio Davon Brown served his country for nearly a decade, stepping forward to do the noblest thing a young person can do, which is to protect others. His service both at home and overseas gave his fellow Americans the security to dream their dreams, and live full lives,” Carter wrote in the Facebook post.
The top Pentagon official called the terrorist attack a “cowardly assault on those freedoms” and a reminder of the mission the soldier had devoted his life to.
“The men and women of the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) grieve with Capt. Brown’s family and with all of the families and loved ones impacted by this tragedy. We stand with the people of Orlando and the nation’s LGBT community during this difficult time, and stand in determination to defeat ISIL and prevent the spread of its hateful ideology.”
Omar Mateen, a Florida resident, was killed by police following the shooting spree at Pulse nightclub. Approximately 50 other people were injured in the attacks. Brown was the first member of the military to be confirmed among those killed.
