US Troops Killed in Ghazni,Afghanistan Identified - General Miller Visited Province Armed with Long Rifle

Three Special Operations Forces members,including two Green Berets,serving in support of Operation Freedom's Sentinel,the US antiterror campaign in Afghanistan,
were killed in Andar,Ghazni Province,Afghanistan on 27 November 2018.They were traveling in a convoy on the way to engage the enemy when an IED struck their vehicle.Three other US troops were wounded,as well as a civilian contractor.They were medevaced out for advanced treatment.The Taliban Islamist extremists claimed responsibility for the blast.
Those killed in action were identified as:
CPT Andrew P. Ross,US Army,29,of Lexington,Virginia;
SFC Eric M. Emond,US Army,39,of Brush Prairie,Washington State;
SSgt Dylan J. Elchin,25,US Air Force,of Hookstown,Pennsylvania.
CPT Ross and SFC Emond were members of 1st Battalion,3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne),out of Fort Bragg,North Carolina.SSgt Elchin was a member of  24th Special Operations Wing,26th Special Tactics Squadron,out of Cannon Air Force Base,New Mexico.*
COL Nathan Prussian,commander,3rd Special Forces Group,noted that:
Andrew and Eric were invaluable members and leaders in 3rd Special Forces Group and the Special Operations community.Our most heartfelt condolences go out to the families of these brave men.*
CPT Ross was on his second deployment.Among his decorations were the Bronze Star Medal (second award),Purple Heart Medal,NATO Medal,and the Combat Action Badge.He is survived by his wife and his parents.
SFC Emond was a veteran of more than 21 years of military service,both in the US Marines and the US Army.He was in his seventh deployment.Highly decorated,some of the awards he had earned were the Bronze Star Medal (third award),the Meritorious Service Medal,the NATO Achievement Medal (second award),the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal,and the Combat Action Badge.He is survived by his wife and three children.
SSgt Elchin was a special tactics combat controller,advising the ground forces commander,directing close air support aircraft,and delivering destructive ordnance on enemy targets in support of offensive combat operations.His decorations included the Bronze Star Medal,Army Commendation Medal with Valor,Air Force Combat Action Medal,and the NATO Medal.
LTC Gregory Walsh,commander of 26th Special Tactics Squadron,said that:
Dylan had an unusual drive to succeed and contribute to the team.He displayed maturity and stoicism beyond his years and was always level-headed,no matter what the situation.*
SSgt Elchin is survived by his fiancée and his parents.*
On 22 November 2018,GEN Austin S. Miller,commander,NATO Resolute Support Mission and US Forces-Afghanistan,visited Ghazni to encourage the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces in their struggle,with US assistance, to secure the unstable province.He was photographed carrying his M4 carbine long rifle,which is quite unusual for a general officer to be seen carrying.Another notable instance of a well-armed general was that of General Matthew Ridgway in the Korean War,wearing grenades on his vest.
His spokesman said GEN Miller just hadn't found anywhere to put it.The general varies his armament according to the circumstances and the location.Sometimes he takes his M4;sometimes he doesn't.*
"They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted.
 They fell with their faces to the foe."
-Robert Laurence Binyon,from "For the Fallen"