Austin, Alan Jerome
Male
Verified U.S. Army Private First Class Alan Jerome Austin, 21, of Houston, Texas, was killed in action on August 12, 2007, north of Sharan, Afghanistan.
Their Story
Alan Jerome Austin was a 21-year-old soldier from Houston, Texas. He served as a Private First Class with Company A, 782nd Brigade Support Battalion, based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. His unit deployed to Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom.
On August 12, 2007, Austin was killed during combat operations in Paktika Province, north of the town of Sharan. According to the U.S. Department of Defense, his vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device. He was one of two soldiers killed in the attack.
By 2007, Operation Enduring Freedom was in its sixth year. The Taliban had regrouped and intensified its insurgency, leading to a sharp increase in the use of roadside bombs. U.S. and coalition casualty figures rose steadily during this period, particularly in eastern provinces like Paktika.
Austin's death was reported by the Department of Defense and noted in local Texas media. He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal and Purple Heart. His remains were returned to the United States for burial.
He is memorialized on the Afghanistan War casualty lists and by the 782nd Brigade Support Battalion. His name appears on the Texas Capitol Vietnam Veterans Monument's extension, which honors Texans who died in later conflicts.
Explore Further
Alan Jerome Austin 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: Andrews, Evander Earl, Edmunds, Jonn Joseph, Stonesifer, Kristofor Tif, Davis, Bryant Leroy.
