A U.S. Army soldier supporting Operation Joint Guardian in eastern Kosovo died Thursday, the Department of Defense announced late Friday afternoon.
Staff Sgt. Conrad Robinson, 36, died at Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo, from a non-combat related incident, Pentagon officials said in a press statement.
Robinson was a preventive medicine specialist assigned to the 155th Medical Detachment, 261st Medical Battalion, 44th Medical Brigade, out of Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
His awards include 5 Army Commendation Medals, 6 Army Achievement Medals, 2 Meritorious Unit Citations, 1 Korean Defense Service Medal and the Nato Medal, according to the Army.
The incident is currently under investigation, according to the statement.
Robinson’s battalion commander, Lt. Col. Kevin Kelly, offered his condolences in a statement to Army Times.
“We’re extremely saddened by the death of Staff Sgt. Conrad Robinson,” Kelly said. “Staff Sgt. Robinson was known around the battalion for his infectious smile, humor and kind heart. He was the definition of selfless service and took the time every day to listen and mentor soldiers.”
“Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends during this difficult time,” Kelly added.
The mission Robinson was supporting — Operation Joint Guardian — is a NATO-led international peacekeeping force that is responsible for ensuring a secure environment in Kosovo. The mission began in 1999 and is ongoing today, though with a much smaller presence of U.S. forces.
Robinson’s death appears to be the second of a U.S. soldier in Kosovo this year. Spc. Robert Jones, a military police working dog handler, also died at Camp Bondsteel in January.
Kyle Rempfer was an editor and reporter who has covered combat operations, criminal cases, foreign military assistance and training accidents. Before entering journalism, Kyle served in U.S. Air Force Special Tactics and deployed in 2014 to Paktika Province, Afghanistan, and Baghdad, Iraq.
