A 25-year-old Army soldier from Centennial died Wednesday in Afghanistan’s Kandahar province when insurgents attacked his unit with guns and mortar fire, the Department of Defense said this afternoon.
A member of the 101st Airborne Division, Brandon Michael Kirton was a decorated soldier.
Since joining the Army in January 2008, he had received the Bronze Star Medal for bravery, a Purple Heart for injuries in combat and numerous other medals and ribbons for his service, the Army said.
He was stationed at Fort Campbell, Ky., which will hold a remembrance in his honor on June 8, the base said this afternoon..
Kirton, an infantryman, was assigned to Charlie Company, 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team.
He is survived by a daughter, Heaven Kirton of Centennial, as well as his parents, Robert and Kathleen Kirton of Parker.
As of Wednesday, at least 1,467 members of the U.S. military had died in Afghanistan since the U.S. invasion in October 2001, according to a Defense Department’s tally.
At least 1,213 military service members have died in Afghanistan as a result of hostile action, according to the military’s numbers.
