FORT BRAGG, N.C. (USASOC News Service, April 28, 2017)--Two U.S. Army Rangers were killed in action April 27 in Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, during combat operations in support of Operation Freedom's Sentinel.
Killed were:
Sgt. Joshua P. Rodgers, 22, who was assigned to Company C, 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, and stationed at Fort Benning, Georgia.
Sgt. Cameron H. Thomas, 23, who was assigned to Company D, 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, and stationed at Fort Benning.
Both service members were killed while conducting combat operations in Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan.
Sgt. Joshua P. Rodgers
Rodgers was born on Aug. 22, 1994 in Normal, Illinois. After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Army from his hometown of Bloomington, Illinois, August 2013, and completed One Station Unit Training at Fort Benning, as an infantryman. After graduating from the Basic Airborne Course, he was assigned to the Ranger Assessment and Selection Program 1, also at Fort Benning. Rodgers graduated from RASP 1 and was then assigned to Company C, 3rd Bn., 75th Ranger Regiment where he served as a machine gunner, semi-automatic gunner, gun team leader and Ranger team leader.
This was Rodgers third deployment to Afghanistan.
His military education includes the Basic Airborne Course, the Ranger Assessment and Selection Program 1, the U.S. Army Ranger Course and the Basic Leader Course.
His awards and decorations include the Ranger Tab, the Parachutist Badge and the Marksmanship Qualification Badge Expert-Rifle.
Rodgers has also been awarded the Army Achievement Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, and the NATO Medal.
Sgt. Cameron H. Thomas
Thomas was born on Aug. 25, 1993 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Army from his hometown of Kettering, Ohio, in February 2012, and completed One Station Unit Training at Fort Benning, as an Infantryman. After graduating from the Basic Airborne Course there, he was assigned to the Ranger Assessment and Selection Program 1 also at Fort Benning. Thomas graduated from RASP 1 and was then assigned to Company D, 3rd Bn., 75th Ranger Regiment where he served as an automatic rifleman, grenadier, and an anti-armor specialist.
This was his third deployment to Afghanistan.
His military education includes the Basic Airborne Course, the Ranger Assessment and Selection Program 1, the U.S. Army Ranger Course, the Basic Leader Course and the U.S. Army Sniper Course.
His awards and decorations include the Ranger Tab, the Expert Infantryman's Badge and the Parachutists Badge.
Thomas has also been awarded the Joint Service Achievement Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Non-Commissioned Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, and the NATO Medal.
NOTE TO MEDIA:
For more information, contact the U.S. Army Special Operations Command Public Affairs at 910-432-3383.
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