Bieren, Austin Leo

Staff Sergeant Austin Leo Bieren was a 25-year-old airman from Umatilla, Oregon. He served in the U.S. Air Force with the 4th Space Control Squadron, based at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado. The squadron's mission involves space electronic warfare, protecting U.S. and allied satellite communications.

Bieren died on March 28, 2017, in northern Syria. According to U.S. Department of Defense statements, he was killed during an operation against the Islamic State group. He was reportedly part of a team advising and assisting local partner forces. The Pentagon did not release specific details of the incident, citing operational security.

The operation was part of Operation Inherent Resolve, the U.S.-led coalition campaign against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, which began in August 2014. By early 2017, coalition and local forces were engaged in a major offensive to recapture the city of Raqqa, the group's declared capital in Syria. U.S. special operations forces were deployed in advisory and direct action roles across the region.

Bieren's death was recorded in the Defense Casualty Analysis System on the day he died. The Air Force notified his family. His death was reported by national news outlets, including The Oregonian, which noted he was one of the first U.S. airmen to be killed in action in Syria since the start of the campaign.

Staff Sergeant Bieren was posthumously promoted from Senior Airman to the rank of Staff Sergeant. He is memorialized on the Air Force Memorial Wall and at the Oregon Military Museum. His name is listed on the Global War on Terrorism memorial at Peterson Space Force Base.

Austin Bieren was killed during Operation Inherent Resolve (ongoing since August 2014). See the full roster of those killed in this conflict.

Among those documented in the same conflict: Villotcarrasco, Yeshabel, Spears, Jordan Lee, Walker, Jonathan Doyle, Neal, Sean Patrick.

← Return to the full memorial | Add a memorial record