DOD Identifies Three Operation Freedom's Sentinel Casualties

The Department of Defense announced today the deaths of two soldiers and one airman who were supporting Operation Freedom's Sentinel.

The service members died Nov. 27, 2018, from injuries sustained when their vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device in Andar, Ghazni Province, Afghanistan.

The soldiers were assigned to 1st Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Bragg, North Carolina. The airman was assigned to the 26th Special Tactics Squadron at Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico.

The incident is under investigation.

The deceased are:

Army Capt. Andrew Patrick Ross, 29, of Lexington, Virginia.

Army Sgt. 1st Class Eric Michael Emond, 39, of Brush Prairie, Washington.

Air Force Staff Sgt. Dylan J. Elchin, 25, of Hookstown, Pennsylvania.

For more information regarding Capt. Andrew P. Ross and Sgt. 1st Class Eric M. Emond, media may contact Lt. Col. Loren Bymer, U.S. Army Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, at 910-432-3383 or by email at loren.bymer@socom.mil.

For more information regarding Staff Sgt. Dylan J. Elchin, media may contact the 24th Special Operations Wing public affairs office at 850-884-3902 or 413-237-4466.