Lutes, David Christopher

David Christopher Lutes was a 28-year-old soldier from Frostburg, Maryland. He served as a Specialist in the U.S. Army, assigned to Troop C, 1st Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, based at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. His unit was deployed to Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom.

According to the U.S. Department of Defense, Lutes died on November 11, 2010, at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany. He had been medically evacuated from Afghanistan after being wounded by an improvised explosive device (IED) while on mounted patrol in the Paktiya province on November 8, 2010.

Lutes was killed during a period of intense fighting in the Afghanistan War, known as Operation Enduring Freedom. In late 2009, the U.S. had deployed a surge of forces, and by late 2010, operations were focused on clearing insurgent strongholds in eastern provinces like Paktiya, where IEDs were a leading cause of casualties.

His death was reported by the Department of Defense and local Maryland news outlets. He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, and other commendations. A memorial service was held at Fort Campbell, and he was buried at the Maryland Veterans Cemetery in Rocky Gap.

Specialist Lutes is remembered on the Fallen Heroes Memorial website and is listed on the Afghanistan War casualty roster maintained by the Defense Casualty Analysis System. His name is included on memorials in his home state of Maryland.

David Lutes 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.

← Return to the full memorial | Add a memorial record