Prasnicki, Stephen Chase

First Lieutenant Stephen Chase Prasnicki was a 24-year-old officer from Lexington, Virginia. He was assigned to Battery B, 4th Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, based in Bamberg, Germany. According to the Department of Defense, he had previously deployed to the Philippines and the Horn of Africa before his assignment to Afghanistan.

On June 27, 2012, Prasnicki was killed by enemy small-arms fire in the Baraki Barak district of Logar province, Afghanistan. He was reportedly on patrol with his unit at the time of the incident. No other soldiers were reported killed in the same engagement.

His death occurred during Operation Enduring Freedom, the U.S.-led military campaign in Afghanistan that began in October 2001. In 2012, the conflict was focused on counterinsurgency operations and training Afghan security forces, with eastern provinces like Logar remaining areas of intense combat.

The Department of Defense announced his death the following day. His body was returned to the United States, and he was buried with military honors. His hometown of Lexington held memorial services, and he was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal and Purple Heart.

First Lieutenant Prasnicki was a graduate of the Virginia Military Institute's ROTC program. He is remembered by his unit and community as a dedicated officer. His name is inscribed on the Afghanistan War Memorial at VMI and on the National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial, which honors those killed in Afghanistan and Iraq.

First Lieutenant Prasnicki 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.

← Return to the full memorial | Add a memorial record