Pentagon Identifies Alaska Soldier Killed in Iraq

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Sgt. Nathaneil G. Irish (U.S. Army)
Sgt. Nathaneil G. Irish (U.S. Army)

The Pentagon announced Wednesday that a soldier based in Alaska died at Camp Taji, Iraq, in a noncombat-related incident Sunday.

Sgt. Nathaneil Irish was supporting Operation Inherent Resolve, according to a Defense Department news release. The incident is under investigation.

The 23-year-old Billings, Montana, native was assigned to 25th Brigade Support Battalion, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, from Fort Wainwright, Alaska, according to the release.

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As of Oct. 28, 86 U.S. military personnel have died supporting Inherent Resolve; 69 of those deaths have occurred in non-hostile conditions, according to Defense Department casualty figures.

Irish joined the Army in January 2015 and served at Fort Bliss, Texas, before reporting to Fort Wainwright in November 2018, according to John Pennell, spokesman for U.S. Army Alaska.

Irish worked as a small arms/artillery repair noncommissioned officer with the 25th BSB. He also served in Kuwait from October 2017 to July 2018, Pennell said.

His awards and decorations include two Army Commendation Medals, three awards of the Army Achievement Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal and the National Defense Service Medal, Pennell added.

-- Matthew Cox can be reached at matthew.cox@military.com.

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