Kevin J McEnroe

Tucson, Arizona

November 4, 2016

Age

Military

Rank

Unit/Location

Army

SSG

5th Special Forces Group (Airborne)

Fort Campbell, Kentucky

Killed in Jafr, Jordan, when their convoy came under fire entering a Jordanian military base.

From The Army Times armytimes.com 11/06/16

Army identifies three Special Forces soldiers killed in Jordan
By: Michelle Tan, November 6, 2016 (Photo Credit: Army)

The three service members killed Friday in Jordan were Green Berets from 5th Special Forces Group, the Army announced Sunday.

The Fort Campbell, Kentucky-based soldiers — Staff Sgt. Matthew Lewellen, Staff Sgt. Kevin McEnroe and Staff Sgt. James Moriarty — died Friday after they reportedly came under fire while entering a Jordanian military base. The incident is still under investigation.

The three soldiers had almost 20 years of service between them.

Lewellen, 27, of Kirksville, Missouri, had more than six years of service.

His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Overseas Service Ribbon and the NATO Medal.

Lewellen, the second son of three children and husband to Renee Laque, was a standout high school athlete who was enrolled at the University of Kansas when he decided to serve his country, his family said in a statement.

He joined the Army in February 2010, graduating from Special Forces training in November 2012. After a 2014 deployment to Afghanistan, Lewellen was on his second deployment to Jordan when he was killed, according to his family.

"Matt was a born leader, a true American," his parents said, according to the statement. "He wanted to be a soldier since third grade, and he was doing what he loved to do."

Lewellen, who was known for his sense of humor, "was proud to serve his country, and he loved the men and women with whom he served," his family said.

Services for Lewellen will take place in his hometown of Kirksville. He will be buried at Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Jacksonville, Missouri, his family said. The family also asked, in lieu of flowers, that donations be made in Lewellen's name to nonprofit organizations that serve military families.

McEnroe, 30, of Tuscon, Arizona, had more than eight years of service. This was his third overseas tour.

His awards include the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, and the Army Service Ribbon.

Moriarty, 27, of Kerrville, Texas, had more than five years of service. This was his second overseas tour.

His awards include the Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, and the Army Service Ribbon.

The Associated Press, citing a family spokesman, reported that Moriarty grew up in Houston and earned a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Texas. The spokesman also said the soldier's family is heartbroken, and they are planning a memorial service in a week or two.

There were conflicting reports after the Friday shooting, as officials first thought one or two service members were killed. The number later was revised to three.

While it’s not immediately clear what prompted the shooting, Jordanian military officials have said the shots were fired as a car carrying the Americans tried to enter the al-Jafr base near the southern Jordanian town of Mann. A Jordanian officer also was wounded.

The U.S. soldiers were in Jordan on a training mission, officials said. The U.S. military typically maintains about 2,000 U.S. forces on the ground in Jordan to support training with the Jordanian military and operations against the Islamic State in neighboring Iraq and Syria.

The deaths of the three soldiers marked a deadly week for the Army’s elite Special Forces, who have been relied upon heavily in Iraq, Afghanistan and other hot spots around the world. They also were the latest in a series of casualties reported from the U.S. Central Command region.

On Oct. 19 in Afghanistan, Sgt. Douglas Riney, 26, died in a shooting attack at Camp Morehead, an ammunition supply point outside Kabul. Also killed was Michael Sauro, an Army civilian.

The shooter was reportedly wearing an Afghan army uniform.

On Oct. 20, Navy Chief Petty Officer Jason Finan, 34, was killed in Iraq during operations near Mosul.

Finan was with Kurdish forces when his unit came under attack. Finan was moving to a better position when his vehicle struck an improvised explosive device, U.S. officials said.

And on Nov. 3 in Afghanistan, Capt. Andrew Byers and Sgt. 1st Class Ryan Gloyer, Special Forces soldiers from 10th Special Forces Group, were killed in a firefight with the Taliban in Kunduz province.

Military Times senior reporter Andrew Tilghman and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

From Fox News foxnews.us 11/07/16

Family calls fallen Special Forces soldier witty, magnetic
Published November 07, 2016 Associated Press

TUCSON, Ariz. – Relatives described a Special Forces soldier from Arizona who was among three Americans killed in Jordan last week as a funny man with a magnetic personality, while national lawmakers praised his service.

Flags in Arizona flew at half-staff Monday in honor of Staff Sgt. Kevin J. McEnroe, 30. He was with a group of military trainers whose convoy came under fire last Friday as they entered a base in Jordan. Also killed were Staff Sgt. Matthew C. Lewellen, 27, of Kirksville, Missouri, and Staff Sgt. James F. Moriarty, 27, of Kerrville, Texas.

U.S. officials have said they are consulting with the Jordanian government to determine exactly what happened.

McEnroe was serving his third overseas tour. His mother, Linda Frost of Tucson, told the Arizona Daily Star newspaper that McEnroe decided to join the Army while going to college in Colorado.

"We don't really have a military background," she said. "He just said he wanted to make a difference and become a Green Beret."

During his career, he received several awards, including the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal and Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal.

McEnroe had a great sense of humor, his mother said.

"He was a little bit of a class clown in school," Frost said. "When he walked into the room, he had this magnetism."

McEnroe will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery. His family is planning a memorial service for January in Tucson.

U.S. Sen. John McCain and Rep. Martha McSally were among those to offer their condolences to McEnroe's family.

"He put his life on the line for a higher purpose and sacrificed so that others would be kept safe," McSally said in a statement. "Such a tragic loss is felt by our entire community, and he will be remembered and honored for his brave and selfless service."

McEnroe was assigned to the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) from Fort Campbell, Kentucky, which was supporting Operation Inherent Resolve, according to the U.S. Defense Department.

Lewellen's parents rembered their son as a "born leader" and "true American."

Chuck and Cindy Lewellen said he wanted to be a soldier since the third grade and "was doing what he loved to do."

The former Kirksville High School prom king and football and track standout attended Missouri's Truman State University and was enrolled at the University of Kansas when he joined the Army in 2010. He most recently lived in Nashville, Tennessee.

Matthew Lewellen was on his second deployment to Jordan. He left the U.S. last month.

"He was proud to serve his country, and he loved the men and women with whom he served," his parents said, adding that their son will be buried at the Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Jacksonville.