Gonzalez, Jaime Jr
Male
Verified Sgt. Jaime Gonzalez Jr., 40, of Austin, Texas, was a member of the Texas Army National Guard's 436th Chemical Company. He was killed in a hostile incident in Kabul, Afghanistan, on August 3, 2008.
Their Story
Jaime Gonzalez Jr. was a 40-year-old sergeant from Austin, Texas, who served with the Texas Army National Guard. He was assigned to the 436th Chemical Company, based in Laredo, a unit specializing in decontamination and hazardous materials operations.
On August 3, 2008, Gonzalez was killed in Kabul, Afghanistan. According to U.S. Department of Defense casualty reports, he died from wounds sustained when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device (IED) while on patrol. The attack occurred in the eastern part of the capital city.
Gonzalez'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 2008, the conflict was marked by a resurgence of insurgent activity, with IEDs becoming a leading cause of casualties for coalition forces.
His death was reported by several news outlets, including the Austin American-Statesman, which noted he was the first member of the 436th Chemical Company to be killed in Afghanistan. The Texas National Guard stated flags were flown at half-staff in his honor.
Sgt. Gonzalez was one of 2356 American service members who died during Operation Enduring Freedom. He is memorialized on the Afghanistan War casualty lists maintained by the Department of Defense and by veterans' organizations.
Explore Further
Sgt. Gonzalez 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.
