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Another Iowa soldier killed in Afghanistan

News

November 26th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

The Department of Defense today (Monday) announced the death of Algona, Iowa native Sgt. Joseph A. Richardson.

Sgt. Joseph Richardson

The 23-year old was serving on active duty in the U.S. Army. Richardson died Nov. 16th during a patrol in Paktika province, Afghanistan, when enemy forces attacked his unit with an Improvised Explosive Device and small arms fire. Also killed in the attack was 24-year old Sgt. Channing B. Hicks, of Greer, S.C.

Both Soldiers were assigned as infantrymen to the 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kan. Richardson was assigned to the 1st ID in October 2008 and had previously served in Iraq with this unit. This was his first deployment to Afghanistan.

The family of Sgt. Joseph Richardson issued a statement, which read in-part:
“He was eager to come into this world and lived his life full of energy and with passion for everything he did. He loved his family and friends. Joe was always on the move and liked by everyone. There wasn’t a time that you spent with Joe that he wasn’t laughing or joking around. Everywhere you would go you would find someone that knew him or just loved how full of life he was.”