Remember the fallen: Troops who died in 2017 fighting for our country

ByAlex Meier WABC logo
Friday, December 29, 2017
Remembering troops who died in the line of duty in 2017
As 2017 comes to a close, let’s remember the troops who died in the line of duty while fighting for our country overseas.

As 2017 comes to a close, but let's not forget the troops who died in the line of duty while fighting for our country overseas. Please take the time to honor a few of the fallen who made the ultimate sacrifice to defend our freedom.

January 29: Navy SEAL William "Ryan" Owens was killed in a raid on an al-Qaeda-linked group in Yemen.

April 8: Staff Sgt. Mark De Alencar was killed in combat in Afghanistan.

April 27: Sgt. Joshua P. Rodgers and Sgt. Cameron H. Thomas were killed during a raid on an ISIS compound in Afghanistan.

April 27: 1st Lt. Weston Lee was killed when an IED detonated during a patrol in Iraq.

May 5: Navy SEAL Kyle Milliken was killed during an operation against al-Shabaab in Somalia.

June 10: Sgt. Eric M. Houck, Sgt. William M. Bays and Cpl. Dillon C. Baldridge died of wounds received while supporting a military operation in Afghanistan.

July 3: Pfc. Hansen B. Kirkpatrick died of wounds received during an indirect fire attack in Afghanistan.

August 2: Sgt. Jonathon M. Hunter and Spc. Christopher M. Harris died when an IED exploded near their convoy in Afghanistan.

August 13: Sgt. Roshain E. Brooks and Sgt. Allen Stigler Jr. died of wounds sustained while in combat operations in Iraq.

August 16: Staff Sgt. Aaron Butler died when an IED exploded during combat operations in Afghanistan.

October 1: Army Spc. Alexander Missildine died when an IED exploded near his vehicle in Iraq.

October 4: Staff Sgt. Bryan Black, Staff Sgt. Jeremiah Johnson, Sgt. La David Johnson and Staff Sgt. Dustin Wright were killed in Niger after an ambush attack by militants believed to be linked to ISIS.

November 4: Sgt. 1st Class Stephen Cribben died of wounds sustained during combat operations in Afghanistan.

*Note* It's impossible to feature every member of our troops who died while deployed, but you're encouraged to send us a picture or a message about a loved one using #abc7eyewitness on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.