Army Staff Sgt. Joshua J. Bowden, 28, died August 31, in Ghazni, Afghanistan. He was killed when enemy forces attacked his unit with gunfire while he was on dismounted patrol, according to the Department of Defense.
Bowden grew up in Villa Rica, Georgia. According to WSB-TV, he enlisted in the Army in 2005. He was on his second deployment to Afghanistan when he was killed.
Bowden's childhood Karate instructor Samantha Hostettler told The Colorado Springs Gazette that the fallen soldier had been a loving brother:
"You know boys - sometimes they're not openly loving with their family. But he just loved his sister. He took care of her."
Bowden was assigned to the 242nd Ordnance Battalion (EOD), 71st Ordnance Group (EOD) at Fort Carson in Colorado.