Hickman, David Emanuel
Male
Verified U.S. Army Specialist David Emanuel Hickman, 23, of Greensboro, North Carolina, died on November 14, 2011, in Baghdad, Iraq, from injuries sustained in a hostile incident.
Their Story
David Emanuel Hickman was a 23-year-old paratrooper from Greensboro, North Carolina. He served as a Specialist with Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
On November 14, 2011, Hickman was on a mounted patrol in northwest Baghdad when his vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device (IED). According to the Department of Defense, the blast caused fatal injuries. He was medically evacuated to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead.
His death occurred during Operation New Dawn, the final phase of the U.S. military mission in Iraq that succeeded Operation Iraqi Freedom. The operation, which formally began in September 2010, focused on advising and assisting Iraqi security forces as U.S. combat troops prepared to withdraw. The last U.S. forces would depart Iraq the following month, in December 2011.
Hickman's death was widely reported as the final American combat casualty of the Iraq War. His family in North Carolina received condolences from military officials and local representatives. His body was returned to the United States for burial.
Hickman was posthumously promoted to the rank of Specialist. He is remembered by his unit and community as a dedicated soldier. His name is inscribed on the Iraq War memorial at Fort Bragg and is included on casualty lists documenting the war's toll.
Explore Further
David Hickman was killed during Operation New Dawn (2010?2011). The conflict concluded in December 2011 with the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq. See the full roster of those killed in this conflict.
Among those documented in the same conflict: Jenkins, Phillip Chad, Mcclamrock, James Fleet, Hansen, James Arthur, Burner, John Franklin Iii.
