US soldier killed in Iraq was a 30-year-old father from North Carolina - AP News

What the report says

The Associated Press reported that the U.S. military has identified Sgt. Michael Emmanuel Swinton, a 30-year-old soldier from North Carolina, as the service member killed in Iraq during a controlled detonation of an Iranian drone. The Army said Swinton died Sunday at an air base in Irbil and that the circumstances remain under investigation.

According to AP, Swinton had served in the Army since 2017 and was assigned to the 55th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 108th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, out of Fort Bragg, North Carolina. The military said he will be posthumously promoted to staff sergeant and receive the Bronze Star, Purple Heart and Combat Action Badge. Public records and Army information tied him to communities near Fort Bragg, including Spring Lake and Fayetteville.

AP also reported family details, citing Swinton’s relatives and social media posts. He leaves a wife, a 6-year-old son and a 4-year-old daughter. His mother described his family as central to his life and said his memory would endure through those he helped and loved.

The report came as the Pentagon also identified Sgt. Angel S. Rampersad, 28, of New York, as a third U.S. service member believed killed in a Friday attack on a base in Jordan. Two others, 1st Lt. Tyler James Feehan of Hawaii and Pvt. Isabella Gonzales of Texas, had already been identified. AP said the deaths occurred amid renewed U.S.-Iran fighting, with American troops stationed across the region and U.S. officials warning that Iran or aligned groups could target American interests overseas.