September 16, 2009

Name: SSG Joshua Mills

Hometown: El Paso, Texas

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DOB: November 1, 1984 DOD: September 16, 2009
 

Entered Service: 2005
 

Deployments: He deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom August 2009 as a member of the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force – Afghanistan

Units: Company A, 3rd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Bragg, North Carolina

Education: Basic Airborne Course, Primary Leadership Development Course, Basic Non-Commissioned Officers Course, Air Movement Operations Course, the Special Forces Qualification Course, and the Special Forces Sniper Course.

​Awards and Decorations: Bronze Star Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terror Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, NATO Medal and NCO Professional Development Ribbon.

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Survived By: Mills is survived by his wife, Magen, and son, Malaki, mother Celeste, father Tommy, and brothers, Quent and Travis.

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During the team’s third deployment to Afghanistan, on the evening of September 15, 2009, as they returned from a successful mission, ODA 7311 was ambushed by an enemy combatant improvised explosive device (IED). The casualties were devastating; two died on site and three others were transported with severe injuries. Within hours of the explosion, SSG Mills and one other injured, died of wounds suffered. Only one soldier survived his injuries from that fateful night.