Kessler, Kevin James
Male
Verified Staff Sergeant Kevin James Kessler, 32, of Canton, Ohio, was a U.S. Army soldier assigned to Company F, 4th Brigade Support Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team. He died in the Arghandab River Valley, Afghanistan, on August 30, 2010.
Their Story
Kevin James Kessler was a 32-year-old Staff Sergeant from Canton, Ohio. He served in the U.S. Army with Company F, 4th Brigade Support Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, based out of Fort Carson, Colorado. His unit was deployed to Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom.
On August 30, 2010, Kessler died in the Arghandab River Valley of Kandahar province. According to the Department of Defense, his death was the result of hostile action. He was reportedly killed by an improvised explosive device (IED) while on a mounted patrol, a common insurgent tactic in the region at the time.
Kessler's death occurred during a period of intense fighting following the U.S. troop surge of 2009-2010. The Arghandab River Valley, a fertile agricultural area near Kandahar City, was a key insurgent stronghold and a focal point for coalition clearing operations. The Taliban contested the area heavily, using IEDs as their primary weapon.
The Department of Defense announced his death on September 1, 2010. He was survived by his wife and children. His body was returned to the United States, and he was buried with military honors.
Kessler is memorialized on the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division memorial at Fort Carson and on online veterans' memorials. His name is listed on the Afghanistan War Memorial at the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus.
Explore Further
Staff Sergeant Kevin James Kessler 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.
