Koehler, Edward William Iii
Male
Verified Sgt. Edward William Koehler III, 47, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, was a member of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard. He died on July 18, 2011, in a hostile incident on Highway 1 in Afghanistan.
Their Story
Edward William Koehler III was a 47-year-old sergeant from Lebanon, Pennsylvania. He served with the Pennsylvania Army National Guard's 131st Transportation Company, 728th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 213th Area Support Group, based in Williamstown.
On July 18, 2011, Sgt. Koehler was killed while on a convoy mission along Highway 1, a major road linking Kabul to Kandahar. According to the Department of Defense, his vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device. He was the sole fatality in the attack.
Koehler's death occurred during Operation Enduring Freedom, the U.S.-led military campaign in Afghanistan that began in October 2001. The mission involved counter-insurgency operations and the training of Afghan security forces. Highway 1 was a critical and frequently targeted supply route for coalition forces.
The Pennsylvania National Guard publicly confirmed his death. Governor Tom Corbett ordered flags to be flown at half-staff in his honor. He was survived by his wife and children.
Sgt. Koehler's name is inscribed on the Pennsylvania National Guard Memorial at Fort Indiantown Gap. He is also listed on the Afghanistan War Memorial at the Pennsylvania Veterans Museum in Media.
Explore Further
Sgt. Koehler 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.
