Border, Raymond James

Raymond James Border was a 31-year-old Chief Petty Officer from West Lafayette, Ohio, serving with the U.S. Navy's Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 74 (NMCB 74). As a Seabee, his duties involved construction and engineering projects in support of military operations. His service included deployments to Afghanistan, the Philippines, and the Horn of Africa.

On October 19, 2011, Border was killed in Yah Ya Khel, a village in Afghanistan's eastern Paktika Province. According to the Department of Defense, he died of wounds sustained from an improvised explosive device (IED) while on a dismounted patrol. He was the only U.S. service member killed in the incident.

Border's death occurred during Operation Enduring Freedom, the U.S.-led military campaign in Afghanistan that began in October 2001. By late 2011, the conflict was in its tenth year, with U.S. and allied forces engaged in counterinsurgency operations and training Afghan national security forces. Paktika Province, bordering Pakistan, was a known area of insurgent activity.

The Navy announced Border's death in a press release on October 21, 2011. He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star medals. His remains were returned to the United States, and he was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

Chief Border is memorialized on the Navy Seabee Veterans of America website and on the Fallen Heroes Project website. He is survived by his wife, parents, and siblings.

Raymond Border 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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