Hotchkin, Gunnar Randall
Male
Verified U.S. Army Private First Class Gunnar Randall Hotchkin, 31, of Naperville, Illinois, was killed in a hostile incident in northern Kunduz province, Afghanistan, on June 16, 2010.
Their Story
Gunnar Randall Hotchkin was a 31-year-old soldier from Naperville, Illinois. He served as a Private First Class in the U.S. Army's 161st Engineer Support Company, 27th Engineer Battalion (Combat) (Airborne), 20th Engineer Brigade, based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
On June 16, 2010, Hotchkin was killed in the northern part of Afghanistan's Kunduz province. The U.S. Department of Defense listed the cause of death as hostile. According to contemporaneous reporting, his death occurred during a patrol when his unit was struck by an improvised explosive device.
Hotchkin's death occurred during Operation Enduring Freedom, the U.S.-led military campaign in Afghanistan that began in October 2001. In 2010, the conflict was marked by a significant U.S. troop surge and intense fighting, particularly in the country's eastern and northern regions, including Kunduz.
Following his death, Hotchkin was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, and other commendations. His remains were returned to Illinois, where he was buried with military honors.
He is memorialized on the 'Faces of the Fallen' page maintained by the Washington Post and on other veteran memorial sites. His name is included on the Naperville Fallen Soldiers Memorial.
Explore Further
PFC Gunnar Hotchkin 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.
