The U.S. Department of Defense announced Friday the death of a soldier from Portage County.
SSG Robert B. Cowdrey, 39, of Atwater, Ohio, died Thursday in Afghanistan while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
According to a news release from the DOD, Sgt. Cowdrey passed away from injuries suffered during combat operations.
Cowdrey, a flight medic, deployed four times after joining the U.S. Army in 2003. He served in Iraq from July 2004 to July 2005, before deploying to Afghanistan three separate times until his death.
Military officials said Cowdrey was a decorated war veteran whose awards included the Bronze Star Medal, Army Commendation Medals for valor, Army Good Conduct Medals, the National Defense Service Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal. Sgt. Cowdrey was also awarded various humanitarian and service medals and ribbons during his time in the military.
Cowdrey was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division, in Fort Bragg, N.C.
He is survived by his wife, Kimberly Cowdrey, and three sons, Justin, Charles and Daniel.
SSG Cowdrey was the 1,807th American killed in Afghanistan.
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