Cox, Nathan Matthew
Male
Verified Nathan Matthew Cox, 32, was a U.S. Army Staff Sergeant from Walcott, Iowa. He was killed in the Korengal Valley, Afghanistan, on September 20, 2008.
Their Story
Staff Sergeant Nathan Matthew Cox was a 32-year-old soldier from Walcott, Iowa. He served with Company B, 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, part of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team based at Fort Hood, Texas. Before his deployment to Afghanistan, his service reportedly included assignments in the Philippines and the Horn of Africa.
On September 20, 2008, Cox was killed by enemy small-arms fire during combat operations in the Korengal Valley of eastern Afghanistan's Kunar Province. The valley, nicknamed the 'Valley of Death' by U.S. troops, was a focal point for intense fighting against insurgent forces at the time.
Cox's death occurred during Operation Enduring Freedom, the U.S.-led military campaign in Afghanistan that began in October 2001. The Korengal Valley was a strategically significant area where U.S. forces established a series of outposts to disrupt insurgent supply routes, resulting in frequent, close-quarters engagements.
Following his death, Cox was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal and Purple Heart. His remains were returned to Iowa, where he was buried in the Rock Island National Cemetery.
He is remembered by family and fellow soldiers. His name is inscribed on the Iowa Veterans Memorial and is listed on the Afghanistan War casualty roster maintained by the U.S. Department of Defense.
Explore Further
Nathan Cox 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.
