Cochran, Kenneth Eldren
Male
Verified Lance Cpl. Kenneth Eldren Cochran, 20, of Wilder, Idaho, was a U.S. Marine killed in action on January 15, 2012, in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
Their Story
Kenneth Eldren Cochran was a 20-year-old from Wilder, Idaho, a small agricultural community in the western part of the state. He served as a Lance Corporal in the United States Marine Corps, assigned to the 9th Engineer Support Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, based out of Okinawa, Japan. His unit was forward-deployed to Afghanistan as part of II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward).
On January 15, 2012, Cochran was killed while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, a volatile southern region that was a focal point for U.S. and allied forces. The Department of Defense announcement stated he died from wounds sustained in an enemy attack. No further specifics regarding the nature of the incident were released in official statements.
Cochran's death occurred during Operation Enduring Freedom, the U.S.-led military campaign in Afghanistan that began in October 2001. By early 2012, a surge of U.S. forces had been deployed and was beginning to draw down, but intense fighting continued, particularly in Taliban strongholds like Helmand. The year 2012 would prove to be one of the deadliest for international forces in the conflict.
His body was returned to the United States, and a funeral service was held in his hometown. The Idaho Statesman reported on the community's response, noting his loss was deeply felt in Wilder. He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart.
Lance Cpl. Cochran is memorialized on the Afghanistan War casualty lists maintained by the Department of Defense and on several online veterans' memorials. According to the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America casualty tracker, he was one of 2,356 American service members who died during Operation Enduring Freedom.
Explore Further
Lance Cpl. Cochran 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.
