SSG Aaron R. Butler

16 August 2017, Afghanistan

Special Forces

A native of Monticello, Utah, Staff Sergeant Aaron R. Butler was killed on 16 August 2017 in Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan, while supporting Operation FREEDOM’S SENTINEL.

Butler enlisted in the Utah Army National Guard as a Combat Engineer in 2008. Following Initial Entry Training, he was assigned to 1457th Engineer Battalion, in Blanding, Utah. Upon completing the Special Forces Qualification Course in 2015, he reported to 1st Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group, at Camp Williams, Utah.

SSG Butler was a Special Forces Engineer Sergeant participating in a counter-Islamic State of Iraq and Syria-Khorasan mission alongside Afghan forces when he suffered fatal wounds from an improvised explosive device.