A 37-year-old soldier from Manhattan was killed by an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan Friday, the Department of Defense said Monday.
Sergeant First Class Ramon Sheldon Morris' vehicle was hit with an IED in Parwan Province, the federal agency said. He had been in Afghanistan since June in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
Morris entered active duty service nearly 20 years ago -- in February 1996 -- as a combat engineer, according to the Department of Defense. He had been assigned to 2nd Squadron, 3rd Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas, since March 2012.
Morris served in Korea from February 2002 to February 2003. He also served in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from July 2003 to April 2004, March 2005 to March 2006 and November 2007 to February 2009.
The soldier earned several awards and decorations, including a Bronze Star Medal, three Meritorious Service Medals, an Army Service Ribbon and National Defense Service medals.
