Decorated Maryland Navy Sailor Among 4 Americans Killed In Syria Suicide Bomb Attack
WASHINGTON (AP/WJZ) — A decorated Navy sailor assigned to Fort Meade in Maryland was among the four Americans killed in a suicide bomb attack claimed by the Islamic State group in Syria this week.
The Pentagon identified them as: Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Jonathan R. Farmer, 37, of Boynton Beach, Florida, who was based at Fort Campbell, Kentucky; Navy Chief Cryptologic Technician (Interpretive) Shannon M. Kent, 35, from upstate New York and based at Fort Meade, Maryland; and a civilian, Scott A. Wirtz, from St. Louis, Missouri.
"Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family, friends, and teammates of Chief Petty Officer Kent during this extremely difficult time. She was a rockstar, an outstanding Chief Petty Officer, and leader to many in the Navy Information Warfare Community," said Cmdr. Joseph Harrison, Commanding Officer, CWA-66.
Kent enlisted in the Navy on Dec. 11, 2003 and graduated from boot camp Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Ill., in February 2004.
Her other military assignments included Navy Information Operations Command, Fort Gordon, Ga.; Navy Special Warfare Support Activity 2, Norfolk, Va.; Personnel Resource Development Office, Washington, D.C.; Navy Information Operations Command, Fort Meade, Md.; and Cryptologic Warfare Group 6, Fort Meade, Md. Kent reported to CWA 66 after the command was established on Aug. 10, 2018, a release from the Navy stated.
"Chief Kent's drive, determination and tenacity were infectious. Although she has left us way too soon, she will not be forgotten, and her legacy will live on with us," said CWA 66 Command Senior Enlisted Leader, Senior Chief Cryptologic Technician (Collections) Denise Vola.
The Pentagon hasn't identified the fourth casualty, a civilian. The four were killed in the northern Syrian town of Manbij on Wednesday. The attack, which also wounded three U.S. troops, was the deadliest assault on U.S. troops in Syria since American forces went into the country in 2015.
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