3 Americans Killed In Syria Explosion Identified

The Department of Defense has identified three of the four Americans who were killed in an explosion in Syria on Wednesday.

In a news release, the DOD said Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Jonathan R. Farmer, 37, of Boynton Beach, Florida, Navy Chief Cryptologic Technician (Interpretive) Shannon M. Kent, 35, of upstate New York, and Scott A. Wirtz, 42, of St. Louis, a civilian employee of the DOD, were among those killed in the explosion in Manbji, Syria.

A fourth American who worked as a DOD contractor has not been identified. Three other service members were wounded in the explosion, officials said.

The DOD said the blast was caused by a suicide improvised explosive device.

Kent enlisted in the Navy in 2003 and received several awards and decorations over the course of her career.

“Chief Kent’s drive, determination and tenacity were infectious,” Denise Vola, CWA 66 Command Senior Enlisted Leader, said in a statement. “Although she has left us way too soon, she will not be forgotten, and her legacy will live on with us.”

Farmer joined the Army in 2005 and served on six overseas combat tours. He is survived by his spouse, two children and his parents. Over his career, Farmer received several awards and decorations.

Kirtz, the civilian employee, worked for the Defense Intelligence Agency. In a press release, the DIA said Kirtz was assigned as an operations support specialist since February 2017. He previously served in the U.S. Navy and as a Navy SEAL and received several military awards and decorations.

“We are deeply saddened by the loss of this patriot,” DIA Director Lt. Gen. Robert P. Ashley, Jr, said in a statement. “This is a stark reminder of the dangerous missions we conduct for the nation and of the threats we work hard to mitigate. As President Lincoln described on the fields at Gettysburg, this officer gave the last full measure of devotion”

The deaths are the first U.S. casualties since President Donald Trump announced intentions to withdraw troops from the country in December.

The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the rare morning attack in the U.S.-patrolled town of Manbij in northern Syria, saying one of its members carried out a suicide attack and detonated his vest filled with explosives.

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Videos released by local activists and news agencies showed a restaurant that suffered extensive damage and a street covered with debris and blood. Several cars were also damaged. Another video showed a helicopter flying over the area.

A local town council and a Syrian war monitoring group said the blast occurred near a restaurant near the town’s main market, near a patrol of the U.S.-led coalition, killing and wounding more than a dozen people.

Reporting and writing from The Associated Press was used in this report.

Patch has reached out to military officials for more information on Chief Warrant Officer 2 Jonathan Farmer and DOD employee Scott A. Wirtz

From left to right: Photo of Jonatham Farmer via U.S. Army, Photo of Shannon Kent released by the U.S. Navy, Photo of Scott Wirtz via DIA