Finan, Jason Christopher
Male
Verified Chief Petty Officer Jason Christopher Finan, 34, of Lake Forest, California, was a U.S. Navy sailor assigned to a Naval Special Warfare unit. He died in Erbil, Iraq, on October 20, 2016, from wounds sustained in a hostile incident.
Their Story
Jason Christopher Finan was a 34-year-old Chief Petty Officer from Lake Forest, California. He served as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) technician assigned to a Naval Special Warfare unit, NSW1 TRIDENT 1539B, according to the Department of Defense.
Finan died on October 20, 2016, from wounds sustained during an operation near Mosul, Iraq. The Pentagon stated he was providing support to Peshmerga forces, the Kurdish military, when he was mortally wounded by an improvised explosive device (IED). He was medically evacuated to Erbil where he succumbed to his injuries.
Finan's death occurred during Operation Inherent Resolve, the U.S.-led coalition campaign against the Islamic State (ISIS). In October 2016, Iraqi and Kurdish forces, backed by coalition advisors and air support, were engaged in the initial, intense phase of the battle to recapture the city of Mosul from ISIS, which had held it since 2014.
The Department of Defense announced Finan's death on October 22, 2016. He was the second American service member to be killed in combat in Iraq since the start of Operation Inherent Resolve. His body was returned to the United States, and he was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart.
Chief Petty Officer Finan was remembered by his command as a dedicated and skilled technician. His death highlighted the persistent threat of IEDs during the Mosul offensive and the role of coalition advisors operating close to front lines.
Explore Further
Jason Finan was killed during Operation Inherent Resolve (ongoing since August 2014). See the full roster of those killed in this conflict.
Among those documented in the same conflict: Villotcarrasco, Yeshabel, Spears, Jordan Lee, Walker, Jonathan Doyle, Neal, Sean Patrick.
