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NY flags will be lowered in honor of Brooklyn soldier

Pentagon Cites Deaths as Artillery 'Mishap'

August 15, 2017 Associated Press

In this image released by the U.S. Army, Sgt. Roshain E. Brooks of Brooklyn is photographed in an official portrait. According to the Pentagon, Brooks and Allen L. Stigler Jr., of Arlington, Texas, who were killed Sunday, Aug. 13 in Iraq, were casualties of a U.S. artillery "mishap." U.S. Army via AP

In this image released by the U.S. Army, Sgt. Roshain E. Brooks of Brooklyn is photographed in an official portrait. According to the Pentagon, Brooks and Allen L. Stigler Jr., of Arlington, Texas, who were killed Sunday, Aug. 13 in Iraq, were casualties of a U.S. artillery "mishap." U.S. Army via AP

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Flags on New York state government buildings will be flown at half-staff Wednesday in memory of a soldier from Brooklyn who died in Iraq.

A Pentagon spokesman says the two U.S. soldiers killed Sunday in Iraq were casualties of a U.S. artillery “mishap.”

The soldiers have been identified as 22-year-old Sgt. Allen L. Stigler Jr. of Arlington, Texas, and 30-year-old Sgt. Roshain E. Brooks of Brooklyn.

Both were cannon crewmembers assigned to 2nd Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division.

The Pentagon spokesman, Army Col. Rob Manning, says an Army artillery unit was firing on an Islamic State mortar position “when a mishap occurred.” Manning says there is no indication that IS played a role in the deaths. He says he cannot provide other details because the incident is under investigation

Five others suffered injuries that Manning says are not life-threatening.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Tuesday that the lowered flags will honor the bravery and service of Brooks.

Cuomo extended condolences to Brooks’ family, friends and fellow soldiers.

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