Illinois Army Guard Soldiers Killed in Afghanistan

From the Office of the Illinois Army and Air National Guard

SPRINGFIELD – Staff Sgt. Jason Burkholder, 27, and 1st Lt. Jared Southworth, 26, Illinois Army National Guard Soldiers assigned to Headquarters Headquarters Co., 2nd Battalion, 130th Infantry of Marion, Ill., were killed in action Feb. 8 in Afghanistan.

A resident of Champaign, Ill., Burkholder, graduated from Elida High School in Ohio in 2000. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps January 2000. He completed his obligation to the Marine Corps January 2004 and enlisted into the Ohio National Guard December 2004. In April 2008, Burkholder transferred into the Illinois Army National Guard. This was Burkholder’s second deployment. His first deployment was in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom September 2006 to September 2007. He was married.

A resident of Oakland, Ill., Southworth was a member of the Oakland Police Department. He graduated from Oakland High School in Illinois in 2000 and then continued his education at Lakeland College earning an Associate’s degree in Criminal Justice. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in General Studies at Eastern Illinois University, Ill. in 2006. He enlisted in the Illinois Army National Guard October 2004 and was commissioned through Eastern Illinois University Reserve Officers’ Training Corps program May 2006. He was married with four children.

“The deaths of 1st Lt. Southworth and Staff Sgt. Burkholder are a loss felt by all of us in the Illinois National Guard, both overseas and here at home,” said Maj. Gen. William Enyart, Adjutant General of the Illinois National Guard. "When we lose an Illinois National Guard Soldier, it's like losing a brother or sister. On behalf of the men and women of the Illinois National Guard, we offer our deepest condolences to the families and friends of Lt. Southworth and Staff Sgt. Burkholder. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all."

Both Soldiers were killed by an improvised explosive device in Helmand, Afghanistan. One member of the Afghan National Civil Order Police and one local national civilian were also killed in the attack. One member of the Afghan National Civil Order Police was wounded. The incident is under investigation.

Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion of the 130th Infantry left Marion in late September and arrived in theater in December.

The unit deployed to Afghanistan as part of the 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT) and is providing security for Embedded Training Teams, Police Mentor Teams and Forward Operating Bases.

Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion of the 130th Infantry is one of approximately 30 units of the 33rd IBCT and two units from the 404th Chemical Brigade that deployed to Afghanistan to form Task Force Phoenix VIII. They were joined in theater by various coalition partners and forces from other U.S. service components to form the remainder of the task force.

Southworth and Burkholder are the 20th and 21st casualties the Illinois National Guard has suffered since operations in Afghanistan and Iraq began. No information on funeral arrangements has been determined at this time.

Out of respect for the Southworth and Burkholder families, please contact the Illinois National Guard Public Affairs Office at 217-761-3569 for all media requests, after duty hours please call 217-725-2265.

For high resolution photos, please contact the Public Affairs office at ngilstaffpao@ng.army.mil