835:
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678:
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hostages outside of the compound. The
Kurdish government stated after the raid that none of the 15 Kurdish fighters who were the object of the operation were found and that none of the hostages freed were Kurdish. Four Kurdish peshmerga soldiers were wounded during the operation. Five ISIS militants were detained during the operation and approximately 20 were killed. On 11 September 2020, one of his teammates, then-SFC
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326:, being held in the compound. Wheeler was directing the Kurdish attack on the prison and joined the fighting when those who had breached the compound came under fire inside. Reports stated that Wheeler ran toward the sound of the gunfire and that his actions along with those of one of his teammates ensured the success of the operation and protected those Kurdish fighters who had breached the compound. The
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asked U.S. special operations forces to support an operation to free hostages that were being held inside the prison and were going to be executed. Information had been obtained which stated the hostages faced imminent execution and it was confirmed that graves had already been prepared for the
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with his four sons and wife, Ashley, who had given birth in August 2015 to his fourth son. His three older sons were from a previous marriage. Wheeler was a citizen of the
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339:
for his actions that day, becoming the first living Delta Force recipient of the Medal of Honor and the first Medal of Honor recipient for
Operation Inherent Resolve.
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283:
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278:. Wheeler deployed three times in support of combat operations to Afghanistan and Iraq with the 75th Ranger Regiment. In 2004 Wheeler was stationed at
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286:'s Delta Force in which he was a team leader deploying 11 times to Afghanistan and Iraq in support of combat operations.
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1399:"Hero killed in ISIS raid Master Sgt. Joshua Wheeler, first U.S. soldier to die in combat against Islamic State"
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forces. The operation secured the release of approximately 70 hostages, including more than 20 members of the
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At the time of his death
Wheeler had been awarded the following awards and decorations, except for the
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203:, and was the first American service member killed in action as a result of enemy fire while fighting
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and was posthumously awarded the Medal of
Patriotism by the Cherokee Nation in July 2016.
352:
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196:
107:
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30:
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1513:"Statement from Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook On Hostage Rescue Mission in Iraq"
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1458:"Who Was Joshua Wheeler? US Soldier Killed In Anti-ISIS Iraqi Hostage Rescue Mission"
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207:. He was also the first American to be killed in action in Iraq since November 2011.
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1370:"Master Sgt. Joshua Wheeler, U.S. Commando Killed in ISIS Raid, Ran to Gunfight"
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1298:"U.S. Identifies American Killed in Iraq Raid as Master Sgt. Joshua Wheeler"
1119:
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319:
1176:"In quiet ceremony, Delta Force soldier killed in Iraq buried at Arlington"
145:
1426:"U.S. ARMY SILVER STAR RECIPIENTS For Actions Since September 11, 2001"
1058:
303:
1619:"Trump bestows Medal of Honor on soldier for hostage rescue in Iraq"
1592:"Master Sgt. Joshua Wheeler ID'd as US soldier killed in Iraqi raid"
1104:
298:
as a result of enemy small-arms fire sustained during a raid on an
632:
294:
Wheeler was killed in the predawn hours of 22 October 2015 during
1484:"U.S. soldier killed in Iraq raid rushed into firefight: Carter"
302:
prison compound 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) North of the town of
210:
Wheeler was a highly decorated service member, having earned 11
1565:"Carter: ISIS hostages saved by US raid already had graves dug"
1259:"Pentagon Identifies First KIA in Fight against Islamic State"
371:
and the Medal of
Patriotism, which were awarded posthumously.
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until 1997 when he was assigned to
Company B, 2nd Battalion,
1223:
1221:
1506:
1504:
1502:
1500:
1331:"DoD identifies soldier killed in commando raid in Iraq"
1697:
American military personnel killed in the War on Terror
1539:"Pentagon confirms first US combat death against ISIS"
1368:
Miklaszewski, Jim; Kube, Courtney (October 23, 2015).
1645:"Cherokee Nation Honors Fallen Hero Joshua Wheeler"
163:
137:
113:
103:
95:
83:
75:
63:
50:
37:
21:
246:in 1994. He was a citizen of the Cherokee Nation.
1712:Native American United States military personnel
1702:Cherokee Nation United States military personnel
1150:American-led intervention in Iraq (2014–present)
1511:U.S. Department of Defense (October 22, 2015).
1228:U.S. Department of Defense (October 23, 2015).
1051:75th Ranger Regiment Distinctive Unit Insignia
1392:
1390:
284:United States Army Special Operations Command
187:(November 22, 1975 – October 22, 2015) was a
8:
1727:United States Army non-commissioned officers
258:in May 1995 as an infantryman and completed
1617:Madhani, Aamer; Colvin, Jill (2020-09-11).
1324:
1322:
1320:
1318:
1155:List of operations conducted by Delta Force
812:Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
242:. He graduated from Muldrow High School in
1451:
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270:and assigned to Company C, 1st Battalion,
29:
18:
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1361:
1359:
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962:
377:
1166:
1296:Schwartz, Felicia (October 23, 2015).
620:Cherokee National Medal of Patriotism
191:soldier who was killed in Iraq during
16:United States Army soldier (1975–2015)
1717:People from Sequoyah County, Oklahoma
1397:Siemaszko, Corky (October 23, 2015).
1291:
1289:
1287:
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1283:
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1279:
1257:McGarry, Brendan (October 23, 2015).
827:Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
7:
1456:Kaplan, Michael (October 23, 2015).
1563:Wong, Kristina (October 23, 2015).
1537:Wong, Kristina (October 22, 2015).
1431:United States Department of Defense
1023:Military Free Fall Jumpmaster Badge
848:NCO Professional Development Ribbon
1329:Tan, Michelle (October 23, 2015).
14:
1174:Dan Lamothe (November 18, 2015).
467:Defense Meritorious Service Medal
1118:
1103:
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1001:
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803:
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684:Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
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523:Joint Service Commendation Medal
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388:
1482:Torbati, Yeganeh (2015-10-23).
928:Navy Presidential Unit Citation
783:Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal
571:Joint Service Achievement Medal
310:. He was one of around 30 U.S.
1230:"DoD Identifies Army Casualty"
666:National Defense Service Medal
314:soldiers who fought alongside
1:
1722:Recipients of the Silver Star
1037:Gold German Parachutist Badge
608:with seven oak leaf clusters
328:Kurdistan Regional Government
230:and the Medal of Patriotism.
1462:International Business Times
888:Army Overseas Service Ribbon
1737:United States Army soldiers
558:with six oak leaf clusters
266:. He was then stationed at
69:Arlington National Cemetery
1758:
1732:United States Army Rangers
1517:U.S. Department of Defense
1234:U.S. Department of Defense
961:
722:Afghanistan Campaign Medal
376:
296:Operation Inherent Resolve
280:Fort Bragg, North Carolina
193:Operation Inherent Resolve
150:Operation Inherent Resolve
117:Company C, 1st Battalion,
54:October 22, 2015 (aged 39)
1098:with Rifle Component Bar
1096:Expert Marksmanship Badge
965:
912:
481:Meritorious Service Medal
380:
28:
1009:Senior Parachutist Badge
995:Expert Infantryman Badge
981:Combat Infantryman Badge
785:with two campaign stars
756:with six campaign stars
282:and was assigned to the
254:Wheeler enlisted in the
234:Early life and education
1201:"Wheeler, Joshua Lloyd"
814:with two service stars
640:Army Good Conduct Medal
556:Army Commendation Medal
318:Counter-terrorism unit
955:with oak leaf cluster
606:Army Achievement Medal
359:Awards and decorations
272:24th Infantry Regiment
268:Fort Lewis, Washington
199:assigned to the elite
119:24th Infantry Regiment
1112:Overseas Service Bars
890:with award numeral 4
529:and oak leaf cluster
324:Iraqi Security Forces
264:Fort Benning, Georgia
96:Years of service
1647:. Native News Online
382:Personal decorations
276:75th Ranger Regiment
238:Wheeler was born in
214:including four with
185:Joshua Lloyd Wheeler
128:75th Ranger Regiment
124:2nd Ranger Battalion
1643:Wallace, November.
1404:New York Daily News
1302:Wall Street Journal
967:Other accoutrements
953:Valorous Unit Award
867:Army Service Ribbon
754:Iraq Campaign Medal
687:(device(s) unknown)
1625:. Associated Press
1598:. October 23, 2015
1180:washingtonpost.com
335:, was awarded the
312:special operations
256:United States Army
212:Bronze Star Medals
189:United States Army
142:War in Afghanistan
90:United States Army
1145:Abu Sayyaf (ISIL)
1136:
1135:
1132:
1131:
959:
958:
905:for service with
439:oak leaf clusters
431:Bronze Star Medal
347:Wheeler lived in
244:Muldrow, Oklahoma
182:
181:
41:November 22, 1975
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1628:
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1611:
1601:
1599:
1590:
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1585:
1575:
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1562:
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1557:
1547:
1545:
1536:
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1419:
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1388:
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1367:
1366:
1351:
1341:
1339:
1328:
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1316:
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1277:
1267:
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1141:
1127:Service stripes
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437:and two silver
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353:Cherokee Nation
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308:Kirkuk province
292:
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250:Military career
236:
197:master sergeant
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108:Master Sergeant
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57:Kirkuk Province
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46:, United States
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205:ISIS militants
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1669:Bio on USASOC
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1434:. May 1, 2017
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1128:
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1046:
1042:
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1038:
1035:
1032:
1028:
1027:
1024:
1021:
1018:
1014:
1013:
1010:
1007:
1004:
1000:
999:
996:
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985:
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876:
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865:
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852:award numeral
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836:
832:
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828:
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822:
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817:
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789:
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777:
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764:
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759:
755:
752:
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741:
735:
731:
730:
727:
723:
720:
716:
709:
702:
696:
692:
691:
688:
685:
682:
679:
675:
674:
671:
667:
664:
659:
653:
646:
645:
641:
638:
634:
628:
624:
623:
619:
616:
612:
611:
607:
604:
600:
593:
586:
580:
576:
575:
572:
569:
566:
562:
561:
557:
554:
550:
543:
537:
533:
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479:
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458:
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914:Unit awards
724:with three
642:(6 awards)
396:Silver Star
365:Silver Star
224:Silver Star
201:Delta Force
195:. He was a
172:Bronze Star
168:Silver Star
132:Delta Force
122:B Company,
1681:Categories
1651:2016-11-05
1629:2020-09-11
1490:2016-11-05
1438:October 8,
1336:Army Times
1161:References
1065:Ranger tab
903:NATO Medal
306:in Iraq's
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1596:Gulf Live
1486:. Reuters
495:Air Medal
320:peshmerga
218:. He was
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1570:The Hill
1543:The Hill
1374:NBC News
1139:See also
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1079:USASOC
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