Female 4th Brigade Combat Team Soldier Killed in Afghanistan

Spc. Krystal M. Fitts, 26, of Houston, Texas, died July 17 in Kandahar, Afghanistan, from injuries suffered from indirect fire.

Fitts was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.

C Company’s commander, Capt. Sam Perlik, applauded Fitts for taking on duties above-and-beyond those required.

“She was attached to the company six months before deploying and immediately impressed those around her with her motivation, tenacity and drive to learn,” Perlik told the fayobserver.com. “Her dedication to the unit and support to fellow paratroopers will be missed, and her contributions well remembered.”

Fitts joined the Army in October 2009 as a chemical operations specialist. Her awards include the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Bronze Service Star, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the NATO Medal, the Combat Action Badge and the Parachutist Badge.