{"id":43241,"date":"2019-08-30T16:45:47","date_gmt":"2019-08-30T16:45:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/uncategorized\/2019\/08\/30\/us-troop-dies-during-combat-ops-in-afghanistan\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T03:29:22","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T03:29:22","slug":"us-troop-dies-during-combat-ops-in-afghanistan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/flashpoints\/2019\/08\/30\/us-troop-dies-during-combat-ops-in-afghanistan\/","title":{"rendered":"Green Beret from 1st Special Forces Group dies during combat ops in Afghanistan, leaves pregnant wife and young daughter"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Sgt. 1st Class Dustin Ard, a Green Beret from 1st Special Forces Group, died from wounds sustained during combat operations in Zabul Province, Afghanistan on Thursday, U.S. Army Special Operations Command has confirmed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ard, 31, left behind a young daughter and a pregnant wife, according to a local newspaper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe received news that we lost our son Dustin<\/a>” in Afghanistan, said his father, Bruce Ard, according to a Facebook post Friday by Idaho State Rep. Rod Furniss. “My heart has a hole so big I can hardly stand it. He was the finest young man I have ever known. Not because he was my son but because of the person he is. A great son, brother, father and husband. He loved his country and was the kind of person we should all be. Son, I love you and know we will see each other again. I will miss you every day I live without you. Love Dad.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Sgt. 1st Class Dustin Ard, 31, was killed in Afghanistan Aug. 29, 2019. He was a member of the 1st Special Forces Group.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

According to The New York Times<\/a>, Ard was on a joint operation with a unit of Afghan commandos when he died. The details of his death have not been released.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Born in Idaho Falls, Idaho, on Oct. 4, 1987, Ard enlisted in the Army in Hyde Park, Utah in 2011, as a Special Forces candidate through the 18X program, according to Lt. Col. Loren Bymer, a USASOC spokesman, in a media release.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ard was assigned to Fort Bragg, North Carolina and attended Special Forces Assessment and Selection and graduated from the Special Forces Qualification Course in 2015. He was then assigned to 2nd Battalion, 1st SFG (A) at Joint Base Lewis\u2013McChord, Washington, as a Special Forces communications sergeant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c<\/b>Sgt. 1st Class Ard\u2019s loss is felt across our 1st Special Forces Group Family,\u201d said Col. Owen G. Ray, 1st Special Forces Group commander, in the release. \u201cOur priority now is to take care of his family and our Soldiers and provide the best possible care that we can during this incredible time of need.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ard deployed twice to Afghanistan in support of the Resolute Support mission and participated in multiple Joint Combined Exchange Training exercises in Indonesia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ard leaves behind his wife, Mary, and their 3-year-old daughter Reagan, according to the Post Register. The couple also is expecting a son.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bruce Ard, mayor of the town of Ammon, Idaho, said his son joined the Army hoping to find a new challenge after completing a mission and college, according to the newspaper. He served for nine years, becoming a Green Beret.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bruce Ard said his son remained focused on his family even when serving thousands of miles away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHe was still just Dustin,\u201d Bruce said, according to the newspaper. \u201cHe was a loving, kind, gentle soul, and he knew what he had to do.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Sgt First Class Dustin Ard and his family from the Facebook page of Idaho State Rep. Rod Furniss.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Ard\u2019s military education includes the Basic, Advanced, and Senior Leader Courses; U.S. Army Airborne School; Military Free Fall Course; Special Operations Joint Terminal Attack Controller Course; Special Operations Sensitive Site Exploitation Course; Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape School; Korean Special Operations Language Course; and the Special Forces Qualification Course.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ard\u2019s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal; Army Achievement Medal; Army Good Conduct Medal (second award); National Defense Service Medal; Afghanistan Campaign Medal (Campaign Star); Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon (third award); Army Service Ribbon; NATO Medal; Army Special Forces Tab; Combat Infantry Badge; Parachutist Badge and Military Free Fall Parachutist Badge.<\/p>\n\n\n\t