Baldridge, Dillon Christopher
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Verified U.S. Army Sergeant Dillon Christopher Baldridge, 22, of Youngsville, North Carolina, died on June 10, 2017, in Jalalabad, Afghanistan, from wounds sustained in a small-arms fire attack.
Their Story
Dillon Christopher Baldridge was a 22-year-old soldier from Youngsville, North Carolina. He served as a Sergeant in the U.S. Army's Company D, 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, based at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
On June 10, 2017, Sergeant Baldridge was killed by small-arms fire in the Achin district of Nangarhar province, near Jalalabad, Afghanistan. According to the Department of Defense, the incident occurred during a partnered operation with Afghan forces. Two other U.S. soldiers, Sgt. Eric M. Houck and Sgt. William M. Bays, were killed in the same engagement.
The soldiers were operating as part of Operation Freedom's Sentinel, the U.S. mission that succeeded Operation Enduring Freedom in 2015. Their unit was deployed to Nangarhar province, a region where U.S. and Afghan forces were engaged in counter-terrorism operations against militants affiliated with the Islamic State group (ISIS-K).
The Pentagon confirmed the deaths the following day. Baldridge was posthumously promoted from Specialist to Sergeant. In a statement reported by local media, his father described him as a dedicated soldier who loved his job and his country.
Sergeant Baldridge was buried with military honors at Arlington National Cemetery. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, and other service medals. His name is inscribed on the North Carolina Veterans Memorial in Raleigh.
Explore Further
Baldridge, Dillon Christopher was killed during Operation Freedom's Sentinel (ongoing since January 2015). The conflict is ongoing. See the full roster of those killed in this conflict.
Among those documented in the same conflict: Golden, Jonathan Joseph, Gonzalez, Jose Juan, Sanchez, Maria Victoria, Dawson, John Michael.
