Wake County soldier killed in Afghanistan, Pentagon says
FORT CARSON, Colo. (WTVD) -- The Defense Department has identified two soldiers killed in Afghanistan as members of the 10th Special Forces Group at Fort Carson, Colorado.
The military said Friday that 30-year-old Capt. Andrew D. Byers of Rolesville, North Carolina, and 34-year-old Sgt. 1st Class Ryan A. Gloyer of Greenville, Pennsylvania, were killed Nov. 3 in Kunduz province.
Defense officials said the soldiers had gotten off a helicopter and were moving on foot with Afghan forces when they came under fire. Four other U.S. troops were injured.
Byers had been in the Army more than eight years and Gloyer for nearly 12.
Each was awarded Bronze Star and Purple Heart medals posthumously. Gloyer had received another Bronze star previously.
"It is always hard to lose a part of our military family. Our thoughts and prayers are with Capt. Andrew D. Byers and Sgt. 1st Class Gloyer's family and friends during this very difficult time," Fort Carson officials said in a statement to ABC11.
Besides Afghanistan, Byers spent time deployed in Italy and in the Democratic Republic of Congo. He entered the Army on May 31, 2008.
