Mills, Edward David Jr

Edward David Mills Jr. was a 29-year-old native of New Castle, Pennsylvania. He served as a Staff Sergeant in the U.S. Army, assigned to Company F (Pathfinder), 4th Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment, 159th Combat Aviation Brigade, based at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

On May 26, 2011, Mills was killed in Spin Boldak, a district in Kandahar province near the border with Pakistan. According to the Department of Defense, his death resulted from hostile enemy action. He was one of at least two U.S. service members killed in Afghanistan that day.

Mills died during Operation Enduring Freedom, the U.S.-led military campaign in Afghanistan that began in October 2001. His death occurred during a period of intense fighting following a surge of U.S. forces in 2010, with a focus on clearing insurgent strongholds in southern provinces like Kandahar.

Following his death, Mills was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, and Meritorious Service Medal. He was survived by his wife and two children. A memorial service was held at Fort Campbell.

Staff Sergeant Mills is remembered by his unit as a dedicated Pathfinder, a specialized soldier trained to establish and operate landing zones in austere environments. His name is inscribed on the Afghanistan War Memorial at the Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida.

Staff Sergeant Mills 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.

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