Name Released, Fort Bragg Soldier Killed by Enemy Fire

The Department of Defense said Wednesday that Capt. Andrew Pedersen-Keel was one of two soldiers killed March 11 in the Jalrez District in the east of Maydan Shahr, Wardak Province, Afghanistan. The soliders were attacked by small arms fire. Pedersen-Keel, 28, who lived in South Miami, FL, was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Bragg, N.C.

Also killed on March 11, 2013 was Staff Sgt. Rex L. Schad, 26, of Edmond, Okla.  He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, 1st Armor Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, GA, the Department of Defense said.

The body of Capt. Pedersen-Keel was returned to the United States, to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, where a dignified transfer took place 8:20 p.m. Tuesday, where family members were waiting. Family members in Madison had been informed of Capt. Pedersen-Keel's death earlier this week by uniformed members of military who came to their door according to the Madison Patch news report.

According to the web site of U.S. Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations, which conducts the dignified transfer:

A solemn dignified transfer ... is conducted upon arrival at Dover Air Force Base, Del., from the aircraft to a transfer vehicle to honor those who have given their lives in the service of our country.  ... A dignified transfer is conducted for every U.S. military member who dies in the theater of operation while in the service of their country. A senior ranking officer of the fallen member's service presides over each dignified transfer.