The Department of Defense announced today the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Freedom's Sentinel. Three other soldiers were wounded in the incident.
Both soldiers died March 22, 2019, in Kunduz Province, Afghanistan, as a result of wounds sustained while engaged in combat operations. The incident is under investigation.
The deceased are:
Spc. Joseph P. Collette, 29, of Lancaster, Ohio. Collette was assigned to the 242nd Ordnance Battalion, 71st Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group, Fort Carson, Colorado.
Sgt. 1st Class Will D. Lindsay, 33, of Cortez, Colorado. Lindsay was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Carson, Colorado.
A native of Lancaster, OH, Collette was an EOD specialist. He joined the Army on November 8, 2010 after graduation from Lancaster High School. He arrived at Fort Carson June 28, 2012.
He deployed to Afghanistan in December, and had been awarded the Purple Heart on the deployment.
Col. David K. Green, commander of 71st Ordnance Group (EOD), said,
"The 71st Ordnance Group (EOD) is deeply saddened by the loss of Spc. Joseph P. Collette. We extend our deepest sympathies and condolences to his Family and friends."
Collette's wife Caela Marie said her husband, whom she called Joey, was “the most genuine person you’ll ever meet.” The couple married in December before his overseas deployment to Afghanistan. They planned to have a proper wedding ceremony, and possibly children together, upon his return to the U.S. this summer. Each has two children from previous relationships.
His wife continued,
“He told me that as soon as 9/11 happened, when we were kids, he knew right then that he wanted to join the Army. He was getting out of the Army in February next year and had never been on deployment. He wanted to go on deployment badly.”
She also said that before her husband left for Afghanistan,
“...he wrote about 30 love letters and hid them in random places around the house for me to find, which I found most of them. So last night, it was really comforting sitting down, reading through those, because it’s almost like he was preparing for this exact scenario."
Joseph Collette’s stepfather, Jim Wickline, said,
“He was loved by many people. He was funny and laid back.”
In addition to the Purple Heart, Collette's other awards include four Army Achievement Medals and the Excellence in Competition Rifleman Badge. Funeral arrangements are incomplete.
Sgt. 1st Class Will D. Lindsay was a Colorado native who grew up in Cortez. He enlisted in the Army in July 2004 and completed One Station Unit Training and Basic Airborne School at Fort Benning, GA. He then completed the Special Forces Qualification Course and was assigned to 10th Group in July 2006.
He deployed five times to Iraq and to Tajikistan in 2016. Afghanistan was his seventh deployment..
Col. Lawrence Ferguson, the group’s commander, said,
“The 10th SFG (A) Family is deeply saddened at the loss of Sgt.1st Class Will Lindsay. Will was one of the best in our formation, with more than a decade of service in the Regiment at all levels of noncommissioned officer leadership. We will focus now on supporting his Family and honoring his legacy and sacrifice.”
Lindsay’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal with four oak leaf clusters, the Purple Heart Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster, the Army Good Conduct Medal with three oak leaf clusters, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Military Free Fall Jumpmaster Badge, the Master Parachutist Badge, Chilean Airborne Wings and the Senior Instructor Badge.
He is survived by his wife and four daughters.
Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.
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