U.S. Soldier Killed
North Carolina Sergeant Killed During Controlled Detonation of Iranian Drone in Iraq
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Key Points
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Swinton was a 30-year-old Fayetteville, North Carolina father of two (a 6-year-old son and a 4-year-old daughter). His wife, Mia Gonzalez-Swinton, posted on Facebook, 'We had so many plans for when you got back, I’m sick to my stomach.' His mother, Christel Swinton Andujar, told WRAL-TV that her son's family was 'the center of his world.'
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Swinton enlisted in 2017 and served with Fort Bragg's 55th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 108th Air Defense Artillery Brigade.
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The detonation occurred during a controlled operation to destroy a downed Iranian one-way attack drone at Erbil Air Base; CENTCOM said the unexploded ordnance came from the drone and one other service member was injured.
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Two other U.S. soldiers killed in Jordan over the same weekend have been identified as 1st Lt. Tyler Feehan (25) and Pvt. Isabella Gonzales (19); Gonzales was from Carrollton, Texas, and Feehan from Ewa Beach, Hawaii.
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There is also one other service member reported missing in Jordan; unidentified remains were found and are being examined to determine whether they belong to the missing service member.
Sgt. Michael Emmanuel Swinton, a 30-year-old father of two from Fayetteville, North Carolina, was killed in Iraq during a controlled detonation of a downed Iranian drone at Erbil Air Base, according to PBS NewsHour. The Pentagon confirmed his death and said he will be awarded the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, and Combat Action Badge posthumously. He will also be promoted to staff sergeant.
Swinton's death brings the total number of U.S. service members killed since the Iran conflict began to 17, according to CBS19. One other soldier was injured in the same incident at Erbil, a key U.S. hub in Iraq's Kurdistan region.
A Father of Two Lost to Drone Ordnance in Iraq
Swinton enlisted in the U.S. Army in 2017 and served with D Battery, 2nd Battalion, 55th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 108th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, according to PBS NewsHour. He had nearly a decade of service. His mother, Christel Swinton Andujar, told WRAL-TV that his family was 'the center of his world.'
Swinton left behind a wife, Mia Gonzalez-Swinton, a 6-year-old son, and a 4-year-old daughter. His wife posted on Facebook, 'We had so many plans for when you got back, I'm sick to my stomach.' The controlled detonation was meant to destroy unexploded ordnance from a downed Iranian one-way attack drone, according to Head Topics.
What Went Wrong at Erbil Air Base
U.S. Central Command said the detonation was a controlled operation to destroy a downed Iranian one-way attack drone. During the blast, unexploded ordnance from the drone caused the fatal injury. One other U.S. service member was wounded in the same incident, according to PBS NewsHour.
Erbil Air Base is a major hub for U.S. forces in northern Iraq. It has been a frequent target of Iranian-backed drone and missile attacks. Authorities said the investigation is ongoing and that full details are still being worked out pending family notifications.
Two More Soldiers Killed in Jordan the Same Weekend
Swinton was not the only U.S. casualty that weekend. Two soldiers were also killed in Jordan while defending against Iranian missiles and drones. They were identified as 1st Lt. Tyler Feehan, 25, of Ewa Beach, Hawaii, and Pvt. Isabella Gonzales, 19, of Carrollton, Texas, according to CBS19.
One additional service member remains missing in Jordan. Unidentified remains were found and are being examined to determine whether they belong to the missing soldier. These deaths mark the first time U.S. troops have been killed by direct Iranian fire in the current conflict, according to The Daily Advance.
Pentagon Honors Swinton as Iran Tensions Escalate
Pentagon and U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command leaders expressed condolences and praised Swinton's service. He will be posthumously promoted to staff sergeant and receive three military honors: the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, and Combat Action Badge, according to The Reflector.
Seventeen U.S. service members have now been killed since the Iran conflict began. U.S. strikes on Iran are continuing. Military officials said they are committed to supporting Swinton's family and his unit at Fort Bragg as the full investigation into his death moves forward, according to PBS NewsHour.
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