Ward, Joshua Allen
Male
Verified U.S. Army Sergeant Joshua Allen Ward, 30, of Scottsville, Kentucky, was killed in Mosul, Iraq, on February 9, 2009, while serving with the 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment.
Their Story
Joshua Allen Ward was a 30-year-old sergeant from Scottsville, Kentucky. He was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, based at Fort Hood, Texas. He deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
On February 9, 2009, Sgt. Ward was killed in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul. According to the U.S. Department of Defense, his death was the result of hostile action. A contemporaneous report from the Associated Press, citing military officials, stated he died from wounds sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle.
Ward's death occurred during the later phase of Operation Iraqi Freedom, a period following the 2007 U.S. troop surge. While overall violence had declined from its peak, insurgent attacks, particularly from IEDs, remained a persistent threat to U.S. and Iraqi forces, especially in northern cities like Mosul.
The Department of Defense announced his death on February 11, 2009. His death was reported by national news outlets, including the Associated Press and the Military Times. He was survived by his wife and other family members.
Sergeant Ward is memorialized on the Iraq War Veterans Memorial and other online veteran tributes. His unit, the 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, continued its mission in Iraq until the conclusion of U.S. combat operations.
Explore Further
Sgt. Joshua Ward was killed during Operation Iraqi Freedom (2003–2010). The conflict concluded in August 2010. See the full roster of those killed in this conflict.
Among those documented in the same conflict: Kennedy, Brian Matthew, Beaupre, Ryan Anthony, Gutierrez, Jose, Waters-bey, Kendall Damon.
