The U.S. Department of Defense announced Friday that a highly decorated soldier from Portage County has been killed in Afghanistan.
Army Staff Sgt. Robert B. Cowdrey, 39, of Atwater Township, died Thursday from wounds suffered during combat in the Kunar province, the military said.
No other information was available.
Kunar is on the Afghan border with Pakistan and has seen some of the most difficult fighting of the 10-year-old war.
Cowdrey was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division, in Fort Bragg, Texas, and was serving as a flight medic.
He is survived by his wife, Kimberly Cowdrey, and three sons, Justin, Charles and Daniel.
The family was not available for comment.
Cowdrey served in Iraq from July 2004 to July 2005, and in Afghanistan three times from January 2007 to February 2008, April 2009 to March 2010, and since August 2011.
His awards and decorations include 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.
Cowdrey joined the Army in June 2003. He completed basic training at Fort Sill, Okla., and advanced individual training at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. He was assigned to Fort Bragg in April 2006.
Cowdrey was the subject of a series of pictures taken by Associated Press photographer Brennan Linsley in February 2010 chronicling the rescue of Marines wounded during a fight with the Taliban for control of the agricultural district of Marjah in the Helmand province.