Pentagon identifies soldier killed in controlled detonation of Iranian drone

The Pentagon identified on Tuesday the soldier who was killed Saturday in northern Iraq during the controlled detonation of an Iranian one-way attack drone.

Sgt. Michael Emmanuel Swinton, 30, of Fayetteville, North Carolina, was killed in action during the detonation of unexploded ordnance at Erbil Air Base, Iraq, a release states.

Lt. Gen. John L. Rafferty, commanding general of Army Air and Missile Defense Command, said in a statement that Swinton died “during an operation to safeguard fellow soldiers.”

The circumstances surrounding his death are under investigation. A second service member was wounded in the detonation and received treatment for a minor injury, U.S. Central Command said .

Swinton enlisted in the Army in 2017 as an Air Defense Early Warning System Operator. He was stationed in Fayetteville and assigned to D Battery, 2nd Battalion, 55th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 108th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, 32nd Army Air and Missile Defense Command.

Following his death, Swinton will receive the Bronze Star, Purple Heart and Combat Action Badge, the Pentagon said. He will be posthumously promoted to staff sergeant.

“His service will not be forgotten, and his sacrifice is not in vain. We will support Sgt. Swinton’s family and his unit during this difficult period,” Rafferty said. “His loss will inspire his fellow soldiers to continue the mission.”

Swinton’s prior awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Army Service Ribbon and Combat Action Badge.

Brig. Gen. John L. Dawber, commanding general of the 32nd Army Air and Missile Defense Command, said Swinton “took great pride in his work and the people around him.”

“He answered the call to duty with courage, honor, and selfless dedication,” Dawber said.

Separately, the Pentagon released the identities Monday of two other U.S. soldiers killed in action in recent days in an Iranian ballistic missile and drone attack at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base, Jordan.

U.S. Army Pvt. Isabella Gonzales, 19, of Carrollton, Texas, and 1st Lt. Tyler James Feehan, 25, from Ewa Beach, Hawaii, died July 17 and July 18, respectively, according to a Department of Defense release .

The deaths bring the toll of American troops killed in the war with Iran to 17.

Nikki Wentling is a senior editor at Military Times. She's reported on veterans and military communities for over a decade and has also covered technology, politics, health care and crime. Her work has earned multiple honors from the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, the Arkansas Associated Press Managing Editors and others.

五角大楼周二确认了周六在伊拉克北部被伊朗单向攻击无人机控制引爆炸死的士兵身份。

新闻稿称，来自北卡罗来纳州费耶特维尔的 30 岁中士迈克尔·伊曼纽尔·斯温顿在伊拉克埃尔比勒空军基地未爆炸弹药爆炸中阵亡。

陆军航空和导弹防御司令部司令约翰·L·拉弗蒂中将在一份声明中表示，斯温顿是在“保护战友的行动中”牺牲的。

他的死因正在调查中。美国中央司令部表示，爆炸中还有另一名军人受伤，已接受轻伤治疗。

斯温顿于 2017 年应征入伍，成为一名防空预警系统操作员。他驻扎在费耶特维尔，隶属于第 32 陆军防空导弹司令部第 108 防空炮兵旅第 55 防空炮兵团第 2 营 D 连。

五角大楼表示，斯温顿去世后将获得铜星勋章、紫心勋章和战斗行动勋章，并被追授上士军衔。

“他的功绩不会被遗忘，他的牺牲也不会白费。我们将在这个艰难时期支持斯温顿中士的家人和他的部队，”拉弗蒂说。“他的离世将激励他的战友们继续完成使命。”

斯温顿此前获得的奖章和勋章包括陆军嘉奖勋章、陆军成就勋章、陆军优良行为勋章、国防服役勋章、全球反恐战争远征勋章、陆军服役勋带和战斗行动徽章。

第 32 陆军防空导弹司令部司令约翰·L·道伯准将表示，斯温顿“以他的工作和周围的人为荣”。

“他以勇气、荣誉和无私奉献精神响应了职责的召唤，”道伯说。

此外，五角大楼周一公布了另外两名美军士兵的身份，他们近日在约旦穆瓦法克萨尔蒂空军基地遭到伊朗弹道导弹和无人机袭击身亡。

据美国国防部发布的消息，来自德克萨斯州卡罗尔顿的19岁美国陆军二等兵伊莎贝拉·冈萨雷斯和来自夏威夷州埃瓦海滩的25岁陆军中尉泰勒·詹姆斯·费汉分别于7月17日和7月18日去世。

这些死亡事件使在两伊战争中丧生的美军人数上升至 17 人。

妮基·温特林是《军事时报》的高级编辑。她从事退伍军人和军人社区报道十余年，也曾涉猎科技、政治、医疗保健和犯罪等领域。她的作品曾多次荣获全国无家可归退伍军人联盟、阿肯色州美联社执行编辑协会等机构颁发的奖项。