Thomason, Michael Anthony

Also known as: PFC, COMPANY B, 2ND BATTALION, 327TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 1 IBCT, FORT CAMPBELL, KY

Combatant

Male Verified

DiedApril 29, 2019

Age28 years old

Location of DeathKOBANI, SYRIA

Cause of DeathKilled in action during a combat operation in Kobani, Syria (not due to enemy contact, per Department of Defense).

Conflict Operation Inherent Resolve

U.S. Army Private First Class Michael Anthony Thomason, 28, of Lincoln Park, Michigan, was killed in action in Kobani, Syria, on April 29, 2019, while serving with the 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment.

Their Story

Michael Anthony Thomason was a 28-year-old soldier from Lincoln Park, Michigan. He served as a Private First Class with Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, based at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. He was deployed to Syria as part of the U.S. military contingent supporting Operation Inherent Resolve.

Thomason died on April 29, 2019, in Kobani, Syria. According to the U.S. Department of Defense, he was killed during a combat operation. The Pentagon stated the incident was under investigation but was not the result of enemy contact. No other U.S. service members were reported killed or wounded in the same event.

Operation Inherent Resolve is the U.S.-led military campaign against the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria, formally launched in August 2014. The mission involved advising and assisting local partner forces. At the time of Thomason's death, a small number of U.S. troops were stationed in northeastern Syria, including the Kobani area, for training and stability operations.

The Department of Defense announced Thomason's death on May 1, 2019. His body was returned to the United States. His death was reported by major news outlets, including The New York Times and Military Times, which noted he was the first American service member to die in Syria in 2019.

Thomason was posthumously promoted to the rank of Specialist. He is memorialized on the Global War on Terrorism Memorial and by his unit. His name is listed among the service members killed in support of Operation Inherent Resolve.