Cleaver, John James
Male
Verified U.S. Army Staff Sergeant John James Cleaver, 36, of Marysville, Washington, was killed on November 19, 2009, at Forward Operating Base Lagman in Afghanistan.
Their Story
John James Cleaver was a 36-year-old Staff Sergeant from Marysville, Washington. He served in the U.S. Army with E Company, 782nd Brigade Support Battalion, a unit tasked with logistics and maintenance support for combat operations.
Cleaver died on November 19, 2009, at Forward Operating Base Lagman in Zabul province. According to the Department of Defense, he was killed by indirect fire, a term for enemy mortar or rocket attacks, while at the base.
His death occurred during Operation Enduring Freedom, the U.S.-led military campaign in Afghanistan that began in October 2001. In late 2009, the conflict was marked by a sustained Taliban insurgency, with attacks on coalition bases and personnel frequent in provinces like Zabul.
Cleaver's death was reported by several news outlets, including The Seattle Times, which noted his Washington state roots. The Army posthumously awarded him the Bronze Star Medal and Purple Heart.
He is remembered on memorial walls in his hometown and by veterans' organizations. His name is inscribed on the Afghanistan War Memorial at the University of Washington Tacoma.
Explore Further
John James Cleaver 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.
