Brooklyn Sergeant Killed During 'Mishap' In Iraq, Army Says

BROOKLYN, NY – An Army sergeant from Brooklyn was identified as one of two paratroopers killed in Iraq after a "mishap" with artillery.

Sgt. Roshain E. Brooks, 30, “died while engaging the enemy with artillery,” the Army stated. An 82nd Airborne Division spokesman could not immediately say which part of Brooklyn Brooks was from.

Sgt. Allen L. Stigler, 22, of Texas, also died, the Army said.

A Pentagon spokesman attributed the deaths to a “mishap.” He was unable to give more details about what happened.

Col. Rob Manning told the Army Times that an Army artillery section was performing a “counter-fire mission against an ISIS mortar” site when the incident occurred, injuring seven.

“There is no indication that ISIS had anything to do with this,” Manning told the publication. “The injured soldiers were [evacuated by air] and two of the soldiers subsequently died.”

Brooks and Stigler were posthumously awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart, among other honors, according to the Army Times.

An Army commander described Brooks as a “courageous patriot.”

“Sergeant Brooks and Stigler were courageous patriots and Paratroopers who served our coalition and the people of Iraq with extraordinary commitment,” Col. Pat Wok of the 82nd Airborne Division said in a statement.

“Our team extends its most sincere condolences to their families and friends. Their personal commitments to our campaign against ISIS were extraordinary and we are incredibly proud to have served with them.”

The Army said Brooks enlisted in 2012. He served in Afghanistan in 2014 and this was his first deployment to Iraq, according to the Army Times.

Lead image of Sgt. Roshain E. Brooks courtesy Army.