Albert, Phillip Robert
Male
Verified U.S. Army Sergeant Major Phillip Robert Albert, 41, of Terryville, Connecticut, died on November 23, 2003, at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, during Operation Enduring Freedom.
Their Story
Phillip Robert Albert was a 41-year-old Sergeant Major from Terryville, Connecticut. He served with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, part of the 10th Mountain Division based at Fort Drum, New York. The unit was deployed to Afghanistan as part of the U.S. military's global counterterrorism operations following the September 11, 2001 attacks.
Albert was killed on November 23, 2003, at Bagram Air Base, a major coalition hub north of Kabul. According to U.S. Department of Defense casualty reports, his death was the result of a hostile attack. Media reports from the time indicate two soldiers were killed and several others wounded when a rocket struck the base, though the Pentagon did not immediately release the specific circumstances of each death.
Operation Enduring Freedom, the U.S.-led military campaign in Afghanistan, began in October 2001 with the stated objectives of dismantling al-Qaeda and removing the Taliban regime from power. By late 2003, the conflict had evolved into a protracted counterinsurgency and stabilization effort, with major bases like Bagram serving as key logistical and operational centers, frequently targeted by insurgent rocket and mortar fire.
The Department of Defense announced Albert's death on November 25, 2003. He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal and Purple Heart. His death was reported by several Connecticut newspapers, which noted his hometown of Terryville and his nearly two decades of service.
Sergeant Major Albert is memorialized on the 10th Mountain Division memorial at Fort Drum and on online veterans' memorials. His unit, the 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, continued multiple deployments to Afghanistan in the years following his death.
Explore Further
SGM Albert was killed during Operation Enduring Freedom (2001?2014). The conflict concluded in December 2014. See the full roster of those killed in this conflict.
Among those documented in the same conflict: Santos, Dave Michael Maliksi, Andrews, Evander Earl, Edmunds, Jonn Joseph, Stonesifer, Kristofor Tif.
