Birchfield, Joshua Harold
Male
Verified Lance Corporal Joshua Harold Birchfield, 24, of Westville, Indiana, was a U.S. Marine killed in Farah Province, Afghanistan, on February 19, 2010.
Their Story
Joshua Harold Birchfield was a 24-year-old from Westville, Indiana. He served as a Lance Corporal in the United States Marine Corps, assigned to Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines, part of the 1st Marine Division based at Twentynine Palms, California. His unit deployed to Afghanistan in late 2009 as part of the Marine Expeditionary Brigade-Afghanistan under Regimental Combat Team 7.
On February 19, 2010, Birchfield was on a dismounted patrol in the volatile Farah Province of western Afghanistan. He was killed by the detonation of an improvised explosive device (IED), according to the Department of Defense. The blast reportedly occurred in the vicinity of the village of Shewan.
His death occurred during Operation Enduring Freedom, the U.S.-led military campaign in Afghanistan that began in October 2001. In early 2010, U.S. and NATO forces were engaged in a major troop surge, with Marines heavily deployed in Helmand and Farah provinces to clear insurgent strongholds and improve security ahead of planned transitions.
Birchfield's body was returned to the United States. A funeral service was held in his hometown of Westville, Indiana. The Department of Defense officially announced his death on February 22, 2010.
Lance Corporal Birchfield was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart. He is remembered on memorials in Indiana and by his unit. His name is inscribed on the 1st Marine Division Memorial at Twentynine Palms.
Explore Further
Lance Corporal Birchfield 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.
