Lembke, Eric Nathaniel
Male
Verified U.S. Army Specialist Eric Nathaniel Lembke, 25, of Tampa, Florida, was killed in a hostile incident in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, on October 23, 2009.
Their Story
Eric Nathaniel Lembke was a 25-year-old soldier from Tampa, Florida. He served as a Specialist in the U.S. Army's 569th Engineer Company, 4th Engineer Battalion, based at Fort Carson, Colorado. His service included deployments to the Philippines, the Horn of Africa, and Afghanistan.
On October 23, 2009, Specialist Lembke was killed while on a dismounted patrol in the vicinity of Kandahar, Afghanistan. According to the Department of Defense, he died from wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his unit using an improvised explosive device (IED).
Lembke's death occurred during Operation Enduring Freedom, the U.S.-led military campaign in Afghanistan that began in October 2001. In 2009, the conflict was marked by a significant increase in U.S. troop levels and a focus on counterinsurgency operations in Taliban strongholds like Kandahar province, where IEDs were a primary threat.
His death was reported by the Department of Defense and noted in several news outlets, including the Tampa Bay Times. He was survived by his wife, parents, and siblings.
Specialist Lembke was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, and other service medals. He is memorialized on the Afghanistan War Memorial at Fort Carson and on the website of the 4th Engineer Battalion.
Explore Further
Eric Lembke 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.
