Brig. Gen. Becomes Highest-Ranking Death in Afghanistan

Posted Feb 4, 2012 by Howard Altman

Updated Feb 5, 2012 at 12:26 AM

An Army brigadier general became the highest-ranking service member to die in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, one of three U.S. service members to have died in Afghanistan this week.

Brig. Gen. Terence J. Hildner, 49, of Fairfax, Va., died Feb. 3, in Kabul province, Afghanistan. Hildner was assigned to the 13th Expeditionary Sustainment Command, Fort Hood, Texas. He died of apparent natural causes, according to Ft. Hood officials.

Lance Cpl. Edward J. Dycus, 22, of Greenville, Miss., died Feb. 1 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.  He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

This incident is under investigation.

Sgt. William C. Stacey, 23, of Redding, Calif., died Jan. 31 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.  He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.

There have now been 1,873 casualties in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, the nation’s longest war.