COLUMBUS – Gov. Mike DeWine has ordered that flags be flown at half-staff on all public buildings and grounds in Fairfield County and at the Statehouse in honor of a Lancaster soldier killed in Afghanistan.
I've ordered that flags be lowered to half-staff on all public buildings and grounds in Fairfield County and at the @OhioStatehouse in honor of @USArmy Spc. Joseph P. Collette, 29, of Lancaster, who was killed yesterday in Kunduz Province, Afghanistan. https://t.co/Tu4OtuCh11 pic.twitter.com/2pbg7UFah6
— Governor Mike DeWine (@GovMikeDeWine) March 24, 2019
Spc. Joseph Collette, 29, was one of two soldiers killed Friday during combat operations in Kunduz province.
The fatalities bring to four the number of U.S. soldiers killed so far this year in Afghanistan. The deaths underscore the difficulties in bringing peace to the war-ravaged country.
“Ohio is proud of Spc. Collette’s service and will never forget his sacrifice,” said DeWine who ordered that the flags remain lowered until sunset on the date of Collette’s funeral.
Collette was assigned to the 242nd Ordnance Battalion, 71st Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group.
“Specialist Collette…gave the ultimate sacrifice in service to our state and our nation, a debt we can never repay. We join the Lancaster community in offering our deepest sympathy to Specialist Collette’s loved ones,” U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown said in a statement.
Collette and Sgt. 1st Class Will Lindsay, 33, of Cortez, Colo., were killed during operations in support of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel.
Lindsay was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne).
Both were based at Fort Carson, Colorado.