Hernandez, Edelman Leonardo
Male
Verified U.S. Army Sergeant Edelman Leonardo Hernandez, 23, of Hyattsville, Maryland, was killed in action on April 12, 2007, in the Korengal Valley, Afghanistan.
Their Story
Edelman Leonardo Hernandez was a 23-year-old soldier from Hyattsville, Maryland. He served as a sergeant with Company A, 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, part of the 10th Mountain Division based at Fort Drum, New York.
On April 12, 2007, Hernandez was killed during combat operations in the Korengal Valley of eastern Afghanistan's Kunar Province. According to U.S. military reports, his unit was engaged by enemy small-arms fire in the valley, a region known for its rugged terrain and persistent insurgent activity.
Hernandez died during Operation Enduring Freedom, the U.S.-led military campaign in Afghanistan that began in October 2001. In 2007, U.S. and NATO forces were engaged in intense counterinsurgency operations, with remote outposts in valleys like the Korengal seeing frequent, close-quarters combat.
The Department of Defense announced his death on April 14, 2007. He was survived by his family in Maryland. His name is inscribed on the Afghanistan War Memorial at the National Infantry Museum in Georgia.
Sergeant Hernandez was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal and Purple Heart. He is remembered by his unit and community as a dedicated soldier. His death was one of several suffered by the 1-32 Infantry during its 2006-2007 deployment to the Korengal Valley.
Explore Further
Sgt. Hernandez 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.
