Castaneda, Christopher Jonathon

Also known as: PV2, TROOP C, 3RD SQUADRON, 71ST CAVALRY REGIMENT, 1ST BRIGADE COMBAT TEAM, FORT DRUM, NY

Combatant

Male Verified

DiedNovember 19, 2015

Age19 years old

Location of DeathAL ASAD AIR BASE, IRAQ

Cause of DeathWounds sustained from indirect fire (enemy mortar/rocket attack)

Conflict Operation Inherent Resolve

U.S. Army Private Christopher Jonathon Castaneda, 19, of Fripp Island, South Carolina, was killed in action on November 19, 2015, at Al Asad Air Base in Iraq.

Their Story

Christopher Jonathon Castaneda was a 19-year-old from the coastal community of Fripp Island, South Carolina. He enlisted in the U.S. Army and was assigned as a Private (PV2) to Troop C, 3rd Squadron, 71st Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, based at Fort Drum, New York.

On November 19, 2015, Castaneda died from wounds sustained during an indirect fire attack on Al Asad Air Base in Anbar Province, Iraq. The attack, which involved enemy mortar or rocket fire, was reported by the U.S. Department of Defense. He was the only U.S. service member killed in the incident.

Castaneda's death occurred during Operation Inherent Resolve, the U.S.-led coalition campaign against the Islamic State (ISIL) in Iraq and Syria. The operation began in August 2014, following ISIL's territorial gains in Iraq. Al Asad Air Base was a major coalition hub for training Iraqi forces and conducting airstrikes, making it a frequent target for insurgent attacks.

His body was returned to the United States, and he was buried with military honors. The Department of Defense officially announced his death, and his name was added to the Defense Casualty Analysis System. Local news outlets in South Carolina reported on his funeral and the community's mourning.

Private Castaneda was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and the Army Commendation Medal. His name is inscribed on the 10th Mountain Division memorial at Fort Drum. He is remembered by his unit and family as a dedicated soldier.