Maciel, Joseph

Joseph Maciel was a 20-year-old soldier from South Gate, California. He served as a Corporal with Company A, Task Force 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, based out of Fort Benning, Georgia.

According to the U.S. Department of Defense, Maciel died on July 7, 2018, in Tarin Kowt, the capital of Afghanistan's Uruzgan province. The Pentagon stated his death resulted from hostile enemy action. He was reportedly part of a train, advise, and assist mission with Afghan forces in the region.

Maciel's death occurred during Operation Freedom's Sentinel, the U.S. military mission in Afghanistan that succeeded Operation Enduring Freedom. The mission, which began on January 1, 2015, focused on counterterrorism and advising Afghan National Defense and Security Forces. U.S. and NATO forces maintained a presence in Uruzgan province, including at Tarin Kowt's Multi National Base, to support these objectives.

The Department of Defense announced Maciel's death in a press release on July 8, 2018. He was posthumously promoted to the rank of Corporal. His remains were returned to the United States, and he was buried at Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier, California.

Maciel was remembered by his unit and community. His name is inscribed on the South Gate Veterans Memorial. The 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment, known as the 'Black Lions,' honored his service alongside others from the unit who died during deployments.

Joseph Maciel was killed during Operation Freedom's Sentinel (ongoing since 2015). See the full roster of those killed in this conflict.

Among those documented in the same conflict: Golden, Jonathan Joseph, Gonzalez, Jose Juan, Sanchez, Maria Victoria, Dawson, John Michael.

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