Billings, Robert John

Sergeant Robert John Billings was a 30-year-old soldier from Clarksville, Virginia. He served with Bravo Company, 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, part of the 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team based at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington. According to his service record, his deployments included Afghanistan, the Philippines, and the Horn of Africa.

On October 13, 2012, Sergeant Billings was killed by enemy small-arms fire in the Kandahar province of southern Afghanistan. He was on a dismounted patrol when his unit came under attack. The Department of Defense officially announced his death three days later, on October 16.

Billings died during Operation Enduring Freedom, the U.S.-led military campaign in Afghanistan that began in October 2001. By late 2012, the conflict was focused on a counterinsurgency strategy, with Kandahar province remaining a major area of operations for Taliban forces and a frequent site of combat.

His death was reported by several national and local news outlets. The Army posthumously awarded him the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, and Meritorious Service Medal. He was survived by his wife and children.

Sergeant Billings is memorialized on the Afghanistan War Memorial at Joint Base Lewis-McChord and is listed on the website of the Fallen Heroes Project. His name is also inscribed on the Clarksville Veterans Memorial in his hometown.

Sergeant Billings 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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