Berry, Richard Liam
Male
Verified U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Richard Liam Berry, 27, of Scottsdale, Arizona, was killed in a hostile incident in Zharay, Afghanistan, on July 22, 2012.
Their Story
Richard Liam Berry was a Staff Sergeant in the United States Army. A native of Scottsdale, Arizona, he was assigned to Company A, 508th Special Troops Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. His service included deployments to Afghanistan, the Philippines, and the Horn of Africa.
Berry died on July 22, 2012, in Zharay district, Kandahar province, Afghanistan. According to the Department of Defense, he was killed by enemy small-arms fire. The incident occurred during a period of intense fighting in the district, a known Taliban stronghold in southern Afghanistan.
Berry's death came during Operation Enduring Freedom, the U.S.-led military campaign in Afghanistan that began in October 2001. In 2012, Zharay was a focal point for clearing operations by U.S. and Afghan forces. The 4th Brigade Combat Team, part of the 82nd Airborne Division, was engaged in counterinsurgency efforts there.
Berry's death was reported by major news outlets, including The Arizona Republic, which noted his local ties. He was one of at least four U.S. service members killed in Afghanistan on that date, according to casualty reports.
He is memorialized on the Afghanistan War casualty lists and by veterans' organizations. His unit, the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, has a documented history in multiple conflicts.
Explore Further
SSG Richard Berry 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.
