Roelli, Jakob James
Male
Verified Sgt. Jakob James Roelli, 24, of Darlington, Wisconsin, served with the U.S. Army's Company A, 2nd Battalion, 34th Armor Regiment. He died in combat in Jakari, Afghanistan, on September 21, 2011.
Their Story
Jakob James Roelli was a 24-year-old sergeant from the small town of Darlington, Wisconsin. He served as an active-duty soldier assigned to Company A, 2nd Battalion, 34th Armor Regiment, part of the 1st Heavy Brigade Combat Team based at Fort Riley, Kansas. His unit was deployed to Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom.
On September 21, 2011, Roelli was killed during a combat operation in the Jakari area of Afghanistan's Paktiya province. According to U.S. Department of Defense casualty reports, the incident involved enemy small-arms fire. Another soldier, Pfc. Diego M. Montoya, 20, was killed in the same engagement.
Roelli's death was reported by several news outlets at the time, which noted the 1st Heavy Brigade Combat Team had been deployed to eastern Afghanistan to conduct counterinsurgency operations. The battalion was responsible for security in a volatile region along the border with Pakistan.
He was one of 2356 American service members who died during Operation Enduring Freedom, the U.S.-led military campaign in Afghanistan that began in October 2001. Roelli was posthumously promoted to the rank of sergeant. His awards include the Bronze Star Medal and Purple Heart.
His funeral was held in Darlington, where he was remembered by his community. The local high school, which he attended, held a moment of silence in his honor.
Explore Further
Operation Enduring Freedom, the U.S. war in Afghanistan, 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.
