The Defense Department has identified Sgt. Michael Emmanuel Swinton as the soldier killed on July 19 during the controlled detonation of a downed Iranian one-way attack drone’s ordnance in Erbil, Iraq.
Swinton, 30, was assigned to D Battery, 2nd Battalion, 55th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 108th Air Defense Artillery Brigade at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, a Pentagon news release says.
“His service will not be forgotten, and his sacrifice is not in vain.” Lt. Gen. John L. Rafferty, commanding general of U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command, said in an Army news release. “We will support Sgt. Swinton’s family and his unit during this difficult period. His loss will inspire his fellow Soldiers to continue the mission.”
A second service member was wounded in the incident and received treatment for “a minor injury,” U.S. Central Command, or CENTCOM, announced on July 19.
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As of Tuesday, no additional details about the circumstances of Swinton’s death or the injury of the other service member were immediately available. The incident is under investigation.
Swinton will receive the Bronze Star, Purple Heart and Combat Action Badge, and will be posthumously promoted to staff sergeant, an Army news release says.
“Sgt. Swinton was an experienced noncommissioned officer who took great pride in his work and the people around him,” said Brig. Gen. John L. Dawber, commanding general of 32nd Army Air and Missile Defense Command, said in a statement. “He answered the call to duty with courage, honor, and selfless dedication.”
Separately, three other U.S. troops were killed on July 17 by an Iranian attack on Muwaffaq Salti Air Base, Jordan.
Pvt. Isabella Gonzales, 19, was killed July 17, and 1st Lt. Tyler James Feehan, 25, died July 18, according to a statement put out by the Department of Defense.
A third U.S. service member, who has not yet been identified, was initially listed as missing following the attack. CENTCOM later announced that an examination was underway of unidentified remains that had been found at the location of the attack.
A total of 18 U.S. service members have died while supporting operations against Iran, which began on Feb. 28, according to the Defense Department. Roughly 100 U.S. service members have been “deemed to have some degree of injury” since July 7, of which 96% have since returned to duty, Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell wrote in a Monday social media post.
