WASHINGTON -- Members of the Defense Department express condolences for the two U.S. Central Command service members who died during the weekend, Army Col. Rob Manning, director of defense press operations, told reporters this morning.
While supporting Operation Freedom’s Sentinel in the Tarin Kowt district of Afghanistan’s Uruzgan province, Army Cpl. Joseph Maciel of South Gate, California, died July 7 of wounds he suffered during an apparent insider attack, Manning said, noting the incident is under investigation.
Maciel was posthumously promoted to corporal. He had served in Afghanistan since February.
Two other U.S. service members were wounded during the attack and are in stable condition, Manning added.
Maciel was an infantryman assigned to the 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment, based at Fort Benning, Georgia. Task Force 1-28 Infantry is deployed in support of the 1st Security Force Assistance Brigade, the colonel noted.
Sailor Dies During Small-boat Ops
On July 8, a sailor assigned to the guided missile destroyer USS Jason Dunham died from injuries suffered while conducting small-boat operations in the Red Sea, Manning said.
The sailor, whose name will be released 24 hours after family members are notified, was medically evacuated to a hospital in Jordan and was pronounced dead at 12:45 p.m. local time.
“The Navy is investigating the circumstances of the sailor's death,” the colonel said, adding that there was no indication of foul play and the sailor died in a nonhostile environment.
The Jason Dunham is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations in support of naval operations to ensure maritime stability and security in the Centcom region, he added.
“These losses are a solemn reminder that our business is inherently dangerous -- but through training and pertinent planning, we always try to mitigate the risks to our personnel who are our most valuable asset,” Manning said.
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