Sgt. 1st Class Dustin Ard, a Green Beret from Idaho, died during combat operations in Afghanistan on Thursday, his family told a legislator in that state.
Ard left behind a young daughter and a pregnant wife, according to a local newspaper.
"We received news that we lost our son Dustin" in Afghanistan, said his father, Bruce Ard, according to a Facebook post Friday by Idaho State Rep. Rod Furniss. "My heart has a hole so big I can hardly stand it. He was the finest young man I have ever known. Not because he was my son but because of the person he is. A great son, brother, father and husband. He loved his country and was the kind of person we should all be. Son, I love you and know we will see each other again. I will miss you every day I live without you. Love Dad."
Ard, who would have turned 32 in October, died Thursday in the Zabul province region, according to The New York Times. According to the report, Ard was on a joint operation with a unit of Afghan commandos when he died. The details of his death have not been released.
A post on the Chapter 16 Special Forces Association's Facebook page relayed an announcement of Ard's death from Army Col. Owen G. Ray, according to the Post Register.
"Dustin was a warrior — an accomplished, respected and loved Special Forces Soldier that could strike up a friendship with anyone, anywhere," Ray said in the announcement. "Our deepest condolences go to SFC Ard's family. We collectively mourn the loss of our Soldier and honor his service to the Nation."
Ard leaves behind his wife, Mary, and their 3-year-old daughter Reagan, according to the Post Register. The couple also is expecting a son.
Bruce Ard, mayor of the town of Ammon, Idaho, said his son joined the Army hoping to find a new challenge after completing a mission and college, according to the newspaper. He served for nine years, becoming a Green Beret.
Bruce Ard said his son remained focused on his family even when serving thousands of miles away.
"He was still just Dustin," Bruce said, according to the newspaper. "He was a loving, kind, gentle soul, and he knew what he had to do."
Lt. Col. Loren Bymer, a spokesman for U.S. Army Special Operations Command, declined comment.
The soldier's death was first announced via a release from NATO's Resolute Support mission to the country. That release did not provide any details about the service member's branch. Officials said they would not clarify whether the service member was killed in action or only while assigned to a combat mission.
"The incident is under investigation and we have no additional details to provide," Resolute Support spokesman Capt. Benjamin Burbank said in a statement to Military Times.
In accordance with U.S. Department of Defense policy, the name of the service member is being withheld until 24 hours after notification of next of kin is complete, officials said in their release.
No further information was provided.
Ard left behind a young daughter and a pregnant wife, according to a local newspaper.
"We received news that we lost our son Dustin" in Afghanistan, said his father, Bruce Ard, according to a Facebook post Friday by Idaho State Rep. Rod Furniss. "My heart has a hole so big I can hardly stand it. He was the finest young man I have ever known. Not because he was my son but because of the person he is. A great son, brother, father and husband. He loved his country and was the kind of person we should all be. Son, I love you and know we will see each other again. I will miss you every day I live without you. Love Dad."
Ard, who would have turned 32 in October, died Thursday in the Zabul province region, according to The New York Times. According to the report, Ard was on a joint operation with a unit of Afghan commandos when he died. The details of his death have not been released.
A post on the Chapter 16 Special Forces Association's Facebook page relayed an announcement of Ard's death from Army Col. Owen G. Ray, according to the Post Register.
"Dustin was a warrior — an accomplished, respected and loved Special Forces Soldier that could strike up a friendship with anyone, anywhere," Ray said in the announcement. "Our deepest condolences go to SFC Ard's family. We collectively mourn the loss of our Soldier and honor his service to the Nation."
Ard leaves behind his wife, Mary, and their 3-year-old daughter Reagan, according to the Post Register. The couple also is expecting a son.
Bruce Ard, mayor of the town of Ammon, Idaho, said his son joined the Army hoping to find a new challenge after completing a mission and college, according to the newspaper. He served for nine years, becoming a Green Beret.
Bruce Ard said his son remained focused on his family even when serving thousands of miles away.
"He was still just Dustin," Bruce said, according to the newspaper. "He was a loving, kind, gentle soul, and he knew what he had to do."
Lt. Col. Loren Bymer, a spokesman for U.S. Army Special Operations Command, declined comment.
The soldier's death was first announced via a release from NATO's Resolute Support mission to the country. That release did not provide any details about the service member's branch. Officials said they would not clarify whether the service member was killed in action or only while assigned to a combat mission.
"The incident is under investigation and we have no additional details to provide," Resolute Support spokesman Capt. Benjamin Burbank said in a statement to Military Times.
In accordance with U.S. Department of Defense policy, the name of the service member is being withheld until 24 hours after notification of next of kin is complete, officials said in their release.
No further information was provided.
Sgt. 1st Class Dustin Ard, a Green Beret from Idaho, died during combat operations in Afghanistan on Thursday, his family told a legislator in that state.
Ard left behind a young daughter and a pregnant wife, according to a local newspaper.
"We received news that we lost our son Dustin" in Afghanistan, said his father, Bruce Ard, according to a Facebook post Friday by Idaho State Rep. Rod Furniss. "My heart has a hole so big I can hardly stand it. He was the finest young man I have ever known. Not because he was my son but because of the person he is. A great son, brother, father and husband. He loved his country and was the kind of person we should all be. Son, I love you and know we will see each other again. I will miss you every day I live without you. Love Dad."
Ard, who would have turned 32 in October, died Thursday in the Zabul province region, according to The New York Times. According to the report, Ard was on a joint operation with a unit of Afghan commandos when he died. The details of his death have not been released.
A post on the Chapter 16 Special Forces Association's Facebook page relayed an announcement of Ard's death from Army Col. Owen G. Ray, according to the Post Register.
"Dustin was a warrior — an accomplished, respected and loved Special Forces Soldier that could strike up a friendship with anyone, anywhere," Ray said in the announcement. "Our deepest condolences go to SFC Ard's family. We collectively mourn the loss of our Soldier and honor his service to the Nation."
Ard leaves behind his wife, Mary, and their 3-year-old daughter Reagan, according to the Post Register. The couple also is expecting a son.
Bruce Ard, mayor of the town of Ammon, Idaho, said his son joined the Army hoping to find a new challenge after completing a mission and college, according to the newspaper. He served for nine years, becoming a Green Beret.
Bruce Ard said his son remained focused on his family even when serving thousands of miles away.
"He was still just Dustin," Bruce said, according to the newspaper. "He was a loving, kind, gentle soul, and he knew what he had to do."
Lt. Col. Loren Bymer, a spokesman for U.S. Army Special Operations Command, declined comment.
The soldier's death was first announced via a release from NATO's Resolute Support mission to the country. That release did not provide any details about the service member's branch. Officials said they would not clarify whether the service member was killed in action or only while assigned to a combat mission.
"The incident is under investigation and we have no additional details to provide," Resolute Support spokesman Capt. Benjamin Burbank said in a statement to Military Times.
In accordance with U.S. Department of Defense policy, the name of the service member is being withheld until 24 hours after notification of next of kin is complete, officials said in their release.
No further information was provided.
Ard left behind a young daughter and a pregnant wife, according to a local newspaper.
"We received news that we lost our son Dustin" in Afghanistan, said his father, Bruce Ard, according to a Facebook post Friday by Idaho State Rep. Rod Furniss. "My heart has a hole so big I can hardly stand it. He was the finest young man I have ever known. Not because he was my son but because of the person he is. A great son, brother, father and husband. He loved his country and was the kind of person we should all be. Son, I love you and know we will see each other again. I will miss you every day I live without you. Love Dad."
Ard, who would have turned 32 in October, died Thursday in the Zabul province region, according to The New York Times. According to the report, Ard was on a joint operation with a unit of Afghan commandos when he died. The details of his death have not been released.
A post on the Chapter 16 Special Forces Association's Facebook page relayed an announcement of Ard's death from Army Col. Owen G. Ray, according to the Post Register.
"Dustin was a warrior — an accomplished, respected and loved Special Forces Soldier that could strike up a friendship with anyone, anywhere," Ray said in the announcement. "Our deepest condolences go to SFC Ard's family. We collectively mourn the loss of our Soldier and honor his service to the Nation."
Ard leaves behind his wife, Mary, and their 3-year-old daughter Reagan, according to the Post Register. The couple also is expecting a son.
Bruce Ard, mayor of the town of Ammon, Idaho, said his son joined the Army hoping to find a new challenge after completing a mission and college, according to the newspaper. He served for nine years, becoming a Green Beret.
Bruce Ard said his son remained focused on his family even when serving thousands of miles away.
"He was still just Dustin," Bruce said, according to the newspaper. "He was a loving, kind, gentle soul, and he knew what he had to do."
Lt. Col. Loren Bymer, a spokesman for U.S. Army Special Operations Command, declined comment.
The soldier's death was first announced via a release from NATO's Resolute Support mission to the country. That release did not provide any details about the service member's branch. Officials said they would not clarify whether the service member was killed in action or only while assigned to a combat mission.
"The incident is under investigation and we have no additional details to provide," Resolute Support spokesman Capt. Benjamin Burbank said in a statement to Military Times.
In accordance with U.S. Department of Defense policy, the name of the service member is being withheld until 24 hours after notification of next of kin is complete, officials said in their release.
No further information was provided.
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