Salmon, Zachary Steven Richard

Private First Class Zachary Steven Richard Salmon was killed on January 12, 2011, during a rocket attack on Forward Operating Base Bostick in Kunar Province, eastern Afghanistan. The attack, which involved indirect fire from insurgent positions, also wounded several other U.S. service members. He was 21 years old.

Salmon was a cavalry scout serving with Troop A, 1st Squadron, 32d Cavalry Regiment, part of the 1st Brigade Combat Team of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). His unit was deployed from its home base at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, as part of the United States' continued military engagement in Afghanistan under Operation Enduring Freedom.

A native of Cincinnati, Ohio, Salmon joined the U.S. Army and trained for the demanding role of a reconnaissance scout. His unit operated in the volatile and mountainous terrain of Kunar Province, an area known for insurgent activity and complex combat operations.

His death was recorded by the Department of Defense and reported by multiple news outlets. The incident at FOB Bostick highlighted the persistent threat of indirect fire against coalition bases even in fortified locations.

Salmon's death occurred during a period of intense fighting in Afghanistan, as U.S. and NATO forces sought to stabilize the region ahead of a planned transition of security responsibilities. The war had entered its tenth year.

He is memorialized on casualty lists and by veterans' organizations. His service, and the circumstances of his death, are part of the documented history of a conflict that concluded with the withdrawal of U.S. forces in 2014.

Operation Enduring Freedom, the U.S.-led military campaign in Afghanistan, began in October 2001 and 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.

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