Breaking: US Army Soldier Dies in Noncombat Incident in Iraq

On Monday, U.S. Army Sergeant Christopher Wesley Curry died after a noncombat related incident in Erbil, Iraq. The Department of Defense is currently investigating the incident.

Curry was deployed in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. He was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division out of Fort Wainwright, Alaska. Curry is from Terre Haute, Indiana.

In a statement from Public Affairs Office-U.S. Army Alaska, the commander of 3-21 Infantry, Lieutenant Colonel Jimmy Howell, said, “Sgt. Curry joined Charlie Company in April 2019 and immediately became a part of our Army family. His technical expertise enabled the unit to deploy from Alaska in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, and his continued effort eased the Company’s transition while in theater.

“Sgt. Curry’s incessant optimism was the hallmark of his personality, and often provided respite for others during times of stress. His honesty, light heartedness, and wit will always be remembered by his brothers in arms. His loss is being felt immensely by Charlie Company, 3-21 Infantry, and the 1/25th SBCT. It is with a heavy heart that we say goodbye to one of our own.”

Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve began Oct. 17, 2014, to defeat ISIS in Iraq and Syria. The joint task force was started after ISIS grew and claimed an Islamic Caliphate, terrorizing the Middle East with extremist Islamic views and actions. U.S. President Donald Trump and allies of the United States claimed victory over ISIS after the last stronghold in Baghouz, Syria, was toppled. The leader of ISIS, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, died on Oct. 26, 2019, after a daring raid executed by U.S. special operations cornered the leader. Al-Baghdadi detonated his suicide vest, killing himself as well as his three children, whom he had used as shields.