Bennett, Alexander James

Alexander James Bennett was a 24-year-old sergeant from Tacoma, Washington. He served with Company B, 7th Battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment, an Army unit based in New Century, Kansas. The unit's mission included aviation support operations.

On August 6, 2011, Bennett was killed at Combat Outpost Sayed Abad in Wardak province, Afghanistan. According to U.S. Department of Defense casualty reports, his death was the result of a hostile incident. The specific attack was reported by international news agencies at the time as an insurgent rocket strike on the outpost.

Bennett died during Operation Enduring Freedom, the U.S.-led military campaign in Afghanistan that began in October 2001. By 2011, the conflict was in its tenth year, marked by a surge of U.S. troops and intensified combat, particularly in eastern provinces like Wardak. Insurgent forces frequently targeted isolated coalition outposts.

Following his death, Bennett was posthumously promoted from specialist to sergeant. His body was returned to the United States, and he was buried with military honors. Local news in Washington state covered the return of his remains and memorial services held in his hometown.

Sergeant Bennett is memorialized on the Afghanistan War Memorial at the Kansas State Capitol, which honors service members from the state who died in the conflict. His name is also inscribed on the Afghanistan and Iraq War Memorial in Olympia, Washington.

SGT Bennett 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.

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