Fike, Robert James

Sergeant First Class Robert James Fike was a 38-year-old soldier from Conneautville, Pennsylvania. He served with the 28th Military Police Company, part of the 2nd Brigade Special Troops Battalion based in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. His military service included deployments to the Philippines and the Horn of Africa prior to his assignment to Afghanistan.

On June 11, 2010, Fike was killed at Forward Operating Base Bullard in the Zabul province of southern Afghanistan. According to U.S. Department of Defense casualty reports, his death was the result of a hostile incident. Specific details of the attack were not widely released, but the base was in a region known for insurgent activity.

Fike's death occurred during Operation Enduring Freedom, the U.S.-led military campaign in Afghanistan that began in October 2001 following the September 11 attacks. By 2010, the conflict was in its ninth year, with a significant U.S. troop surge underway to counter a resilient Taliban insurgency, particularly in the country's southern and eastern provinces.

The Pentagon officially announced Fike's death several days after the incident. He was posthumously promoted from Staff Sergeant to Sergeant First Class. Local news in Pennsylvania reported on his death, noting his hometown and his unit's base.

Fike is remembered on memorial walls for fallen soldiers from Pennsylvania. His name is listed on the Pennsylvania Veterans Memorial at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery and is included in online memorials dedicated to those who died in the Afghanistan war.

Robert Fike 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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