The Department of Defense officially identified the two servicemen killed in Kunduz Province, Afghanistan, on Friday. Both of the soldiers died “as a result of wounds sustained while engaged in combat operations.”
Spc. Joseph P. Collette, 29, of Lancaster, Ohio:
Collette was assigned to the 242nd Ordnance Battalion, 71st Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group, Fort Carson, Colorado.
Collette’s wife, who he had married only several months beforehand, revealed his death on Facebook before the DOD officially identified him.
"The 71st Ordnance Group (EOD) is deeply saddened by the loss of Spc. Joseph P. Collette. We extend our deepest sympathies and condolences to his Family and friends," said Col. David K. Green, commander of 71st Ordnance Group (EOD).
“We didn’t have our full ceremony yet because we didn’t have time. We got married less than a month before he deployed and then when he returned in June we were going to fly to Florida and have a ceremony there.” Caela Marie Collette told Stars and Stripes before flying to Dover Air Force Base to retrieve his remains.
“He told me that as soon as 9/11 happened when we were kids he knew right then that he wanted to join the Army,” she added. “He was getting out of the Army in February next year and had never been on deployment. He wanted to go on deployment badly.”
Caela also told Stars and Stripes “he wrote about 30 love letters and hid them in random places around the house for me to find, which I found most of them, so last night it was really comforting sitting down reading through those because it’s almost like he was preparing for this exact scenario.”
They have two children each from previous relationships.
Sgt. 1st Class Will D. Lindsay, 33, of Cortez, Colorado:
Lindsay was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Carson, Colorado. He had enlisted into the Army on July 7, 2004 and had deployed five times, ranging from to Iraq, Tajikistan, where he supported the Counter-Narcotics Terrorism mission, and Afghanistan.
“The 10th SFG (A) Family is deeply saddened at the loss of Sgt. 1st Class Will Lindsay,” said Col. Lawrence Ferguson, 10th SFG (A) commander. “Will was one of the best in our formation, with more than a decade of service in the Regiment at all levels of noncommissioned officer leadership. We will focus now on supporting his Family and honoring his legacy and sacrifice.”
Lindsay is survived by his wife and four daughters.