The Lone Star State is mourning the untimely passing of Sgt. Cameron Meddock, who died Thursday in Landstuhl, Germany, of injuries he sustained from small-arms fire in Badghis Province, Afghanistan, the Department of Defense is reporting.
A native of Spearman, Texas, Meddock, who was 26, had been assigned to 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, in Washington State.
This was his second deployment in support of NATO’s Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan, The Army Times noted.
“Sergeant Cameron Meddock is one of America’s precious sons. The entire nation should strive to emulate the warrior, patriot and husband that Cameron was,” Col. Brandon Tegtmeier, commander of the 75th Ranger Regiment, said in a statement obtained by The Army Times.
“The 75th Ranger Regiment will forever honor Sergeant Cameron Meddock, and his family will forever be a member of our Ranger family,” added Col. Tegtmeier.
Meddock’s passing marks the first U.S. combat casualty from Afghanistan this year.
There are about 14,000 U.S. military forces in Afghanistan right now, and troops are there mostly to aid the Afghan military in its fight against the Taliban and ISIS-affiliated groups, Fox News reported.
Army Ranger Sgt. Cameron A. Meddock, 26, of Spearman, Texas, died Jan. 17, 2019, in Landstuhl, Germany, as a result of wounds sustained from small arms fire on Jan. 12, 2019, in Badghis Province, Afghanistan. pic.twitter.com/CiXh49l3j7
— USSOCOM (@USSOCOM) January 18, 2019
GWOT (Global War on Terror) fallen are (from LtoR): Army Green Beret CW2 Jonathan Farmer, Navy Chief Cryptologic Technician Shannon Kent, DoD Defense Intelligence Agency specialist Scott Wirtz (all 3 in Syria suicide bomb) & Army Ranger SGT Cameron Meddock (in Afghanistan) pic.twitter.com/R6xfmhS3yR
— Flag Steward (@FlagSteward) January 18, 2019
Sgt. Cameron A. Meddock, 26, died on Thursday in Landstuhl, Germany, a Defense Department news release says. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment. Cameron died after… https://t.co/NaajI45Xfc
— Wounded Warriors FS (@coljohnfolsom) January 18, 2019
On behalf of Joint Base Lewis-McChord, we extend our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Sgt. Cameron A. Meddock of 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, who died Jan. 17 as a result of injuries sustained in combat in Afghanistan. @USASOCNews https://t.co/ZbcDmUi9W7
— Joint Base Lewis-McChord (@JBLM_PAO) January 18, 2019
Meddock had earned a Purple Heart, among many other awards and designations, noted his hometown newspaper, the High Plains Observer.
In honor of Meddock’s service to his country — and his ultimate sacrifice — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced that flags will be lowered at the state capitol building in Austin.
Meddock leaves behind his wife Stephanie and a baby on the way.
He enlisted in November 2014.
Elizabeth Economou is a former CNBC staff writer and adjunct professor. Follow her on Twitter.
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