Claremore soldier's death came in attack by Afghan police, officials confirm
BY JERRY WOFFORD World Staff Writer
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
The Claremore soldier who died last weekend in Afghanistan was one of four soldiers who was killed during an insider attack by Afghan police, according to the Department of Defense.
Pfc. Jon R. Townsend, 19, died Sunday in the southern Zabul province of Afghanistan when his unit was attacked with small arms fire, according to the Defense Department.
Townsend was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, based at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington.
Reports over the weekend confirmed that four American soldiers were killed Sunday in the Zabul province when an Afghan police officer fired at the soldiers who were responding to a remote checkpoint.
At least 51 members of the NATO force have been killed in the so-called “insider” attacks so far this year, including eight last weekend.
In response to the increase of these attacks, NATO commanders have scaled back operations with Afghan military and police forces, including the suspension of most mentoring operations that applies to all front-line missions involving small units, according to reports.
The three other soldiers killed Sunday have been identified as Sgt. Sapuro B. Nena, 25, of Honolulu; Spc. Joshua N. Nelson, 22, Greenville, N.C.; and Pfc. Genaro Bedoy, 20, of Amarillo, Texas. Townsend, Nena and Bedoy were in the same Stryker Brigade Combat Team. Nelson was assigned to the 202nd Military Intelligence Battalion, 513th Military Intelligence Brigade, Fort Gordon, Ga.
Associated Images:
Pfc. Jon R. Townsend
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