Oratowski, Kevin Edward
Male
Verified Kevin Edward Oratowski, 23, of Wheaton, Illinois, was a Lance Corporal in the U.S. Marine Corps. He was killed in action in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, on August 18, 2010.
Their Story
Kevin Edward Oratowski was a 23-year-old from Wheaton, Illinois. He served as a Lance Corporal with the 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, based out of Camp Pendleton, California. According to Marine Corps records, his service included deployments to Afghanistan, the Philippines, and the Horn of Africa.
On August 18, 2010, Oratowski was killed while conducting combat operations in Helmand Province, a volatile region in southern Afghanistan. The Marine Corps listed the cause of his death as hostile action. No further specific details of the incident were publicly released by the Department of Defense.
Oratowski's death occurred during Operation Enduring Freedom, the U.S.-led military campaign in Afghanistan that began in October 2001. In late 2009, a significant troop surge was ordered, and by 2010, Helmand Province was a focal point for intense counterinsurgency operations against Taliban forces.
His death was announced by the Department of Defense. He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart. Local media in Illinois reported on his death, noting his roots in Wheaton and his service.
Lance Corporal Oratowski is remembered on memorials including the 'Faces of the Fallen' project. His name is inscribed on Panel 8W, Line 63 of the Afghanistan War Memorial at the National Museum of the United States Army.
Explore Further
Lance Corporal Oratowski 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.
