Puyallup Green Beret Killed In Niger Ambush

PUYALLUP, WA - The Department of Defense on Friday identified the three soldiers killed in Niger on Oct. 4. One of the soldiers, Bryan C. Black, 35, was from Puyallup, the department reported. The soldiers were in Niger to train and assist local troops.

All three soldiers were stationed at Fort Bragg in North Carolina and were part of the 3rd Special Forces Group, also called Green Berets. The other two soldiers were identified as:

• Staff Sgt. Jeremiah W. Johnson, 39, of Springboro, Ohio
• Staff Sgt. Dustin M. Wright, 29, of Lyons, Georgia

The three soldiers were part of a reconnaissance mission along the Mali-Niger border Wednesday afternoon when they were ambushed. The attackers were liked affiliated with al Qaeda, according to the New York Times. Two other U.S. troops were injured in the attack.

According to reports, the U.S. military has stepped up its presence in central Africa to prevent groups like Islamic State from gaining a foothold. There are some 800 U.S. troops in Niger alone, according to the Washington Post.

Image via U.S. Department of Defense