Cotisears, Niall William
Male
Verified Lance Corporal Niall William Cotisears, a 23-year-old U.S. Marine from Arlington, Virginia, was killed in Helmand province, Afghanistan, on June 23, 2012.
Their Story
Niall William Cotisears was a Lance Corporal serving with the 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, part of the 1st Marine Division based at Twentynine Palms, California. A native of Arlington, Virginia, he was 23 years old at the time of his death. His service included deployments to Afghanistan, the Philippines, and the Horn of Africa.
On June 23, 2012, Cotisears was killed in Helmand province, a volatile region in southern Afghanistan. According to the Department of Defense, he died from wounds received from enemy small arms fire while conducting combat operations.
His death occurred during Operation Enduring Freedom, the U.S.-led military campaign in Afghanistan that began in October 2001. In 2012, Helmand province remained a major center of insurgent activity and a focus for U.S. Marine Corps operations.
Cotisears was posthumously promoted to the rank of Corporal. He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery. His family and unit members were notified of his death by military officials.
He is remembered on memorial walls and in online tributes maintained by veterans' groups. His name is inscribed on the Afghanistan War Memorial at the Marine Corps Museum.
Explore Further
Cpl. Niall Cotisears 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.
