(marsmet461, Creative Commons)

According to CNN, the sailor, Petty Officer 1st Class Ryan J. Wilson, died May 20 of medical complications. He had supported the mission in Afghanistan, and as such “was the 1,974th U.S. death in the war that started October 7, 2001, and the 3,000th overall death from the U.S.-led international coalition engaged in Operation Enduring Freedom.”

Officer Wilson was named Sailor of the Quarter after his successful leadership in a maritime operations center last year, the UK Telegraph reports. A letter of commendation accompanied the award. It said:

“Your enthusiastic leadership emphasized the responsibility of sailors to mentor junior personnel, eliminate communication problems, enhance career development, and inspire senior petty officers to assume leadership roles.”

The death of Officer Wilson came not only days before the United States was due to honor its veterans on Memorial Day, but also less than two years before British and American forces are due to withdraw from Afghanistan.

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