Rivera-lopez, Emil

Staff Sergeant Emil Rivera-Lopez was a soldier assigned to Company C, 3rd Battalion, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), based at Fort Stewart, Georgia. The 160th SOAR, known as the "Night Stalkers," provides helicopter aviation support for U.S. special operations forces.

Rivera-Lopez died on August 25, 2017, in the Gulf of Aden off the coast of Yemen. According to U.S. Central Command, he was fatally injured when a U.S. military MH-60 Black Hawk helicopter he was aboard crashed during a training exercise. The incident occurred in international waters. The Department of Defense stated the crash was not the result of enemy action.

Rivera-Lopez's death occurred under Operation Inherent Resolve, the U.S.-led coalition campaign against the Islamic State (ISIS) in Iraq and Syria, which began in August 2014. In 2017, the campaign was focused on recapturing major ISIS strongholds like Mosul and Raqqa. U.S. forces also conducted counterterrorism operations in Yemen against al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) and provided support to Saudi-led coalition forces, creating a complex regional battlefield.

The Army announced his death on August 26, 2017. He was posthumously promoted from Sergeant to Staff Sergeant. A memorial service was held at Fort Stewart. His awards included the Army Commendation Medal and the Army Achievement Medal.

Rivera-Lopez is remembered by his unit and family as a dedicated soldier. He is buried at South Florida National Cemetery in Lake Worth, Florida. His name is inscribed on the Global War on Terrorism memorial at Fort Stewart.

Emil Rivera-Lopez was killed during Operation Inherent Resolve (ongoing since August 2014). See the full roster of those killed in this conflict.

Among those documented in the same conflict: Villotcarrasco, Yeshabel, Spears, Jordan Lee, Walker, Jonathan Doyle, Neal, Sean Patrick.

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