Balli, Edward
Male
Verified Chief Warrant Officer 2 Edward Balli, 42, of Salinas, California, was a U.S. Army soldier assigned to the 2nd Cavalry Regiment. He died on January 20, 2014, at Forward Operating Base Pasab, Afghanistan.
Their Story
Edward Balli was a 42-year-old Chief Warrant Officer 2 from Salinas, California. He served in the U.S. Army's 2nd Cavalry Regiment, a Stryker brigade combat team based in Vilseck, Germany. The regiment deployed to Afghanistan in late 2013 as part of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).
Balli died on January 20, 2014, at Forward Operating Base Pasab in Kandahar province. According to U.S. Department of Defense statements, he was killed by an individual wearing an Afghan National Army uniform in what is commonly termed an insider attack. Another U.S. soldier was wounded in the same incident.
His death occurred during Operation Enduring Freedom, the U.S.-led military campaign in Afghanistan that began in October 2001. At the time, ISAF forces were conducting a training and advisory mission with Afghan National Security Forces as part of a planned transition of security responsibilities.
The attack was reported by international news agencies, including The New York Times and the Associated Press. The Pentagon confirmed Balli's death and identified him the following day. The incident was one of several insider attacks that occurred during that period of the conflict.
Balli was posthumously promoted from Chief Warrant Officer 2 to Chief Warrant Officer 3. He is memorialized on the Afghanistan War Memorial at the California Capitol and is buried at Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Salinas.
Explore Further
Edward Balli was killed during Operation Enduring Freedom (2001–2014). The conflict concluded in December 2014. See the full roster of those killed in this conflict.
Among those documented in the same conflict: Andrews, Evander Earl, Edmunds, Jonn Joseph, Stonesifer, Kristofor Tif, Davis, Bryant Leroy.
