Chandler Soldier, Staff Sgt. Alexander Conrad, Killed In Somalia

The Department of Defense announced the death of Staff Sgt. Alexander W. Conrad, 26, of Chandler, Arizona.

Staff Sgt. Conrad was supporting Operation Octave Shield. He died June 8, in Somalia of injuries sustained from enemy indirect fire. The incident is under investigation.

Conrad was assigned to 1st Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group, Fort Bragg, North Carolina. According to Reuters, he had received numerous awards and was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and Meritorious Service Medal.

Reuters also reported that Conrad was previously deployed to Afghanistan twice in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, for a total of more than 13 months.