US Army Staff Sgt. Robert Cowdrey

39-year-old US Army Staff Sergeant Robert B. Cowdrey, from Atwater, Ohio, was killed in action during combat operations in Kunar province on 13th October 2011. He was a flight medic assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division, based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. This was his third deployment to Afghanistan.

SSgt. Cowdrey joined the Army in June 2003. He served in Iraq from July 2004 to July 2005 and served in Afghanistan three times, from January 2007 to February 2008 and from April 2009 to March 2010. He deployed on his third tour in August this year.

According to news reports, he lived in Stanford, North Carolina with his wife Jill and three sons.

SSgt. Cowdrey was decorated multiple times. He held the Bronze Star Medal, three Air Medals, two Army Commendation Medals for valor, three Army Commendation Medals, two Army Achievement Medals, two Army Good Conduct Medals, the National Defense Service medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Humanitarian Service Medal, the Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the NATO Medal, the Combat Medic Badge, the Combat Action Badge and the Aviator Badge.