Nolen, James Michael
Male
Verified U.S. Army Sergeant James Michael Nolen, 25, of Alvin, Texas, was killed in action in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, on November 22, 2009.
Their Story
James Michael Nolen was a sergeant assigned to Company C, 2nd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He was from Alvin, Texas, and was 25 years old at the time of his deployment to Afghanistan.
According to U.S. Department of Defense casualty reports, Sergeant Nolen died on November 22, 2009, in Kandahar province, southern Afghanistan. The official release stated his death was the result of hostile action. Specific operational details of the incident were not publicly disclosed by the military.
Nolen was killed during Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), the U.S.-led military campaign in Afghanistan that began in October 2001. By late 2009, the conflict was in a period of intense fighting, with a major focus on insurgent strongholds in the southern provinces, including Kandahar. U.S. and allied forces were engaged in a troop surge aimed at securing population centers.
His death was reported by several news outlets, including the Houston Chronicle, which noted his Texas hometown. The 82nd Airborne Division publicly acknowledged the loss of Sergeant Nolen and another soldier killed the same day. He was posthumously promoted to the rank of sergeant.
Sergeant Nolen is memorialized on the 82nd Airborne Division's memorial website and at the Global War on Terrorism memorial at Fort Bragg. His name is also inscribed on the Alvin Veterans Memorial in his hometown.
Explore Further
Sgt. James Nolen 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.
