Lyons, John Alden
Male
Verified U.S. Army Sergeant John Alden Lyons, 26, of Seaside Park, New Jersey, died on October 26, 2011, in Ghazni province, Afghanistan.
Their Story
John Alden Lyons was a 26-year-old sergeant from Seaside Park, New Jersey. He served in the U.S. Army as a member of the 572nd Engineer Company, 8th Engineer Battalion, 36th Engineer Brigade, based at Fort Hood, Texas. His unit deployed to Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom.
On October 26, 2011, Sergeant Lyons was killed in Ghazni province, a volatile region in eastern Afghanistan. The Department of Defense stated his death resulted from hostile action. According to reports, he was struck by an improvised explosive device while on a route clearance mission, a dangerous task where engineers locate and disarm roadside bombs.
Lyons died during the later years of Operation Enduring Freedom, the U.S.-led military campaign in Afghanistan that began in October 2001. By 2011, the conflict was characterized by a sustained insurgency, with IEDs being a leading cause of casualties for coalition forces. Ghazni province was a known transit and insurgent stronghold along Highway 1, a major national route.
His death was reported by several news outlets, including the Asbury Park Press, which covered the impact on his New Jersey community. The Army posthumously awarded him the Bronze Star Medal and Purple Heart. He was survived by his parents and siblings.
Sergeant Lyons is memorialized on the Afghanistan War Memorial at the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans' Memorial Foundation in Holmdel. His name is also inscribed on the Seaside Park September 11th and Global War on Terror Memorial.
Explore Further
Sgt. John Alden Lyons 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.
