Soldier From La Junta KIA
US Army SSGT Robert Cowdrey, Brian to his friends, died was on his latest tour in Afghanistan when, according to family members, he was wounded when he came under enemy fire.
Cowdrey,39, was stationed at Fort Bragg, in North Carolina. He was a flight medic helping those who were wounded in battle. He died Oct. 13 in Kunar province, Afghanistan
He was married to his wife Jill, who is also from La Junta, and was a father of three boys, Justin, Charles and Daniel.
Cowdrey joined the Army in June 2003. He was assigned to Fort Bragg in April 2006. Cowdrey deployed four times while serving in the U.S. Army. He served in Iraq from July 2004 to July 2005, and in Afghanistan three times from January 2007 to February 2008, April 2009 to March 2010, and August 2011 to October 2011.
Cowdrey graduated from La Junta High School in 1990. His family now lives in Stanford, NC.
He made worldwide news when the AP snapped several photos of him during a rescue mission. The AP described the scene as a sporadic firefight where Cowdrey was helping coordinate a medical evacuation mission.
The three photos TARGET 13 was able to find show him and a Marine carrying a wounded Taliban fighter who had been captured.
In a blog posting on one of his social media website dating back to 2008, he wrote, ?These 7 months have been a reflection on my last deployment, although not deliberate. I have found myself more and more thinking of the things I saw and went thru during 2007. I am surprised at how some of it has bothered me. ?
Cowdrey wrote about his previous deployment to Iraq that he saw so much carnage and several close calls to death than any other deployment. He wrote, ? I’ve always thought that veterans before me have suffered more than I could ever suffer on a deployment…………in that, I spent 2 years away from my family w/ daily phone calls, internet in my room (wireless at that), showers and port-a-johns and above all, time to tear up my Xbox 360. I know vets before me went without all these niceties, but I have a new perspective of another personal suffering they must always live w/, the loss of a brother…………It’s hit me like at truck and has brought out an emotion that is hard to contain at times, that I have experienced that same loss. ?
Cordrey who was a medic with the the 3rd Battalion, 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division, added to his blog post, ?When I take home the bodies of Soldiers who paid the price of freedom for all who enjoy life in the US, I see the hurting families that are left behind. Children who have lost their father, wives who have lost their husbands…………..it is almost to much to bare, so you disconnect. Until you are forced to deal that strong emotion, loss. ?
His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, three Air Medals, two Army Commendation Medals for valor, three Army Commendation Medals, two Army Achievement Medals, two Army Good Conduct Medals, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Humanitarian Service Medal, the Non commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the NATO Medal, the Combat Medic Badge, the Combat Action Badge and the Aviator Badge.
