Deluzio, Steven Joseph
Male
Verified U.S. Army Sergeant Steven Joseph Deluzio, 25, of South Glastonbury, Connecticut, died on August 22, 2010, in Jajil District, Paktia province, Afghanistan, during Operation Enduring Freedom.
Their Story
Steven Joseph Deluzio was a 25-year-old soldier from South Glastonbury, Connecticut. He served as a sergeant in the Army National Guard, assigned to Alpha Company, 3rd Battalion, 172nd Infantry Regiment (Mountain). His unit was part of Task Force Rakkasan under the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, and Combined Joint Task Force-101.
On August 22, 2010, Sergeant Deluzio was killed by hostile fire during combat operations in the Jajil District of Afghanistan's Paktia province. According to the Department of Defense, he was one of two soldiers from his unit killed in the same engagement. The incident occurred during a patrol or security operation in the volatile eastern region near the Pakistan border.
Deluzio's death occurred during Operation Enduring Freedom, the U.S.-led military campaign in Afghanistan that began in October 2001 following the September 11 attacks. The operation's stated objectives included dismantling al-Qaeda and removing the Taliban regime from power. By 2010, the conflict was marked by a significant U.S. troop surge and intense fighting in eastern and southern Afghanistan.
Following his death, Deluzio was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, and Meritorious Service Medal. His body was returned to Connecticut, where a funeral service was held. Local news reported that he was remembered by family and fellow soldiers as a dedicated leader who cared deeply for his men.
Sergeant Deluzio is memorialized on the Afghanistan War Memorial at the Connecticut State Capitol and on online veterans' memorials. His name is included on the roster of Connecticut service members killed in Afghanistan, and his unit continued its deployment following the losses sustained in August 2010.
Explore Further
Sergeant Deluzio 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.
