Peney, Jonathan Kelly Lee
Male
Verified U.S. Army Sergeant Jonathan Kelly Lee Peney, 22, of Marietta, Georgia, was killed in a hostile incident in Zhari District, Afghanistan, on June 1, 2010.
Their Story
Jonathan Kelly Lee Peney was a 22-year-old sergeant from Marietta, Georgia. He served with Company D, 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, an elite airborne infantry unit based at Fort Benning, Georgia.
On June 1, 2010, Sergeant Peney was killed during a combat operation in Zhari District, Kandahar Province, Afghanistan. According to U.S. military reports, he died from wounds sustained in a hostile incident. The operation was part of a larger coalition effort to clear insurgent strongholds in the district.
His death occurred during Operation Enduring Freedom, the U.S.-led military campaign in Afghanistan that began in October 2001. In mid-2010, coalition forces launched a major offensive in Kandahar, with Zhari District—a known Taliban transit and command hub—being a focal point of intense fighting.
Sergeant Peney's body was returned to the United States. He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, and Meritorious Service Medal for his actions. His battalion commander stated Peney was a 'tremendous Ranger' who died while leading his squad.
He is memorialized on the 75th Ranger Regiment's memorial at Fort Benning and on online veterans' memorials. A scholarship fund was reportedly established in his name at his former high school in Georgia.
Explore Further
Jonathan Peney 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.
