Kisling, Daniel Leon Jr
Male
Verified U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Daniel Leon Kisling Jr., 31, of Neosho, Missouri, was killed in action on January 30, 2003, in Bagram, Afghanistan.
Their Story
Daniel Leon Kisling Jr. was a Staff Sergeant in the United States Army. He served with Delta Company, 1st Battalion, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), based at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. The 160th SOAR, known as the "Night Stalkers," provides helicopter aviation support for special operations forces. Kisling had deployed to multiple theaters, including Afghanistan, the Philippines, and the Horn of Africa.
On January 30, 2003, Kisling was killed in Bagram, Afghanistan. According to the Department of Defense, he died from injuries sustained when his MH-60L Black Hawk helicopter crashed. The crash occurred during a training mission near Bagram Airfield. No hostile fire was reported in connection with the incident.
Kisling's death occurred during Operation Enduring Freedom, the U.S.-led military campaign in Afghanistan that began in October 2001. By early 2003, major combat operations had largely shifted from conventional battles to counter-insurgency and special operations missions. The U.S. military was heavily reliant on air assets like those flown by the 160th SOAR for mobility and support across the country.
Following his death, Kisling was posthumously awarded the Meritorious Service Medal and the Air Medal. His remains were returned to the United States. A memorial service was held at Fort Campbell, and he was buried with full military honors.
Staff Sergeant Kisling is memorialized on the Army's Fallen Soldier Memorial at Fort Campbell and on the Special Operations Memorial at the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School. His name is inscribed on Panel 8W, Line 123 of the Afghanistan Campaign Memorial at the National Infantry Museum.
Explore Further
Daniel Kisling 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.
