Emond, Eric Michael
Male
Verified U.S. Army Sergeant First Class Eric Michael Emond, 39, of Brush Prairie, Washington, died in Ghazni Province, Afghanistan, on November 27, 2018.
Their Story
Eric Michael Emond was a 39-year-old U.S. Army Special Forces soldier from Brush Prairie, Washington. He served with Company B, 1st Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne), based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
On November 27, 2018, Emond was killed by an improvised explosive device detonated near a vehicle in the Ghazni Province of Afghanistan. The attack occurred during a combat patrol. Two other U.S. service members, Captain Andrew Ross and Air Force Staff Sergeant Dylan Elchin, died in the same incident.
Emond was deployed as part of Operation Freedom's Sentinel, the U.S. military mission in Afghanistan that began in January 2015. The mission focused on counterterrorism and advising Afghan security forces. Ghazni Province was a contested area where Taliban forces remained active.
Following his death, the Department of Defense confirmed the casualties. Emond was posthumously promoted from Staff Sergeant to Sergeant First Class. His awards included three Bronze Star Medals, two Purple Hearts, and the Meritorious Service Medal.
Emond was a former Marine who had served in the Army for more than 21 years across multiple combat deployments. He is survived by his wife and three children. His name is inscribed on the Afghanistan War Memorial at the National Infantry Museum.
Explore Further
Eric Emond was killed during Operation Freedom's Sentinel (ongoing since January 2015). See the full roster of those killed in this conflict.
Among those documented in the same conflict: Golden, Jonathan Joseph, Gonzalez, Jose Juan, Sanchez, Maria Victoria, Dawson, John Michael.
