iStock/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) – The Pentagon has identified the three U.S. Army Special Forces members who died in Africa earlier this week in an ambush believed to have been carried out by an Islamic extremist group.
All three soldiers, commonly known as Green Berets, belonged to the 3rd Special Forces group based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
Staff Sgt. Bryan Black, 35, Staff Sgt. Jeremiah Johnson, 39, and Staff Sgt. Dustin Wright, 29, died from wounds sustained during the ambush that occurred near Niger’s border with Mali about 125 miles north of Niamey, Niger’s capital.
They were among a squad of 10 to 12 U.S. soldiers on a joint patrol with Nigerien soldiers who came under attack by a force of 50 enemy fighters. It’s unclear which group ambushed the joint U.S.-Nigerien patrol because various extremist groups operate along the Niger-Mali border area, including Ansar Dine, an al Qaeda-affiliated extremist group, and ISIS-West Africa.
Two other soldiers were wounded in the incident and are receiving medical treatment at a U.S. Army hospital in Germany.
Staff Sgt. Bryan Black of Puyallup, Washington, who enlisted in the Army in October 2009, was a Green Beret serving as a Special Forces medical sergeant. His awards and decorations includes the Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Special Forces Tab, Ranger Tab, Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge, and Marksmanship Qualification Badge – Sharpshooter with Rifle.
Staff Sgt. Dustin Wright of Lyons, Georgia, enlisted in the Army in July 2012 and was a Green Beret serving as a Special Forces engineer sergeant. His awards and decorations included the Joint Service Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Special Forces Tab, and Parachutist Badge.
Staff Sgt. Jeremiah Johnson of Springboro, Ohio, enlisted in the Army in October 2007 and served as a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear specialist attached to the Green Beret unit.
His awards includes the Army Commendation Medal (2nd Award), Army Achievement Medal (5th Award), Army Good Conduct Medal (3rd Award), National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Service Ribbon, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge, Driver and Mechanic Badge, and Marksmanship Qualification Badge – Expert with Pistol and Rifle.
There are about 800 U.S. military personnel in Niger helping that country’s counterterrorism efforts against extremist groups. Some of the U.S. forces are part of a drone surveillance mission over Mali that operates out of two bases in Niger.
Others are involved in a training-and-advising mission with Niger’s military to improve its counterterrorism capabilities.
Copyright © 2017, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.