--- title: "Pentagon identifies Special Forces soldier killed in Afghanistan" description: "Sgt. 1st Class Dustin B. Ard died on Aug. 29 from wounds he sustained during combat operations in Zabul Province, Afghanistan." date: "2019-08-31" modified: "2019-08-31" authors: - name: "Jeff Schogol" job_title: "Senior Pentagon Reporter" link: "https://taskandpurpose.com/authors/jeff-schogol/" url: "https://taskandpurpose.com/news/fallen-special-forces-soldier-identified/" categories: - "Afghanistan" - "Army" - "Around the World" - "Military Branches" - "News" tags: - "central command" - "Pentagon" - "special operations command" --- # Pentagon identifies Special Forces soldier killed in Afghanistan ![]() The Special Forces community is mourning the loss of another brother killed in Afghanistan this year: Sgt. 1st Class Dustin B. Ard, of 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne). Ard, 31, was on his third deployment to Afghanistan when he died on Aug. 29 from wounds he sustained during combat operations in Zabul Province, Afghanistan, said Lt. Col. Loren Bymer, a spokesman for U.S. Army Special Operations Command. He had recently been promoted to sergeant first class on Aug. 1 and has been posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star, Bymer said. "Sgt. 1st Class Ard's loss is felt across our 1st Special Forces Group Family," Col. Owen G. Ray, commander of 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne), said in a news release. "Our priority now is to take care of his family and our soldiers and provide the best possible care that we can during this incredible time of need." It has been a particularly deadly year in Afghanistan for U.S. troops. A total of 18 service members have died this year supporting Operation Freedom's Sentinel, including eight soldiers from Special Forces. ## Author Jeff Schogol is the former senior Pentagon reporter for Task & Purpose. He reported on both the Department of Defense as a whole and individual services, covering a variety of topics that include personnel, policy, military justice, deployments, and technology. ### Author social links [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]() [Twitter]()