Oklahoma National Guardsman From Kingston Killed In Afghanistan

News9.com

OKLAHOMA CITY – A 27-year old Oklahoma soldier in the Army National Guard was killed in Afghanistan, the Department of Defense announced Monday.

2nd Lt. Joe L. Cunningham of Kingston, Oklahoma died on Saturday in Laghman, Afghanistan from injuries sustained in a non-combat incident.

According to Oklahoma National Guard, Cunningham was assigned to 1st Battalion, 179th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, and Oklahoma Army National Guard in Stillwater. He was previously deployed to Iraq in 2005-2006 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant last year.

"Second Lieutenant Cunningham actually enlisted barely two months after we were attacked on 9/11," said Lt. Col. Max Moss, an Oklahoma National Guard spokesman. "After earning the rank of sergeant and demonstrating outstanding character and leadership potential, he was selected to attend Officer Candidate School. He will be greatly missed by all of us in uniform that knew him and our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends as they cope with his loss."

Cunningham has received numerous awards including the Iraq Campaign Medal, Overseas Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with M device, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal and Army Achievement Medal.

Cunningham is the sixth Oklahoma National Guard member to die in Afghanistan in the past two weeks.

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