DOD Announces the Death of a New York Army National Guard Officer

1st Lt. Joseph Theinert killed while serving with 10th Mountain Division

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1st Lieutenant Joseph J. Theinert, age 24, died June 4, 2010 in Afghanistan while assigned to Army's 1st Squadron, 71st Cavalry, part of the 10th Mountain Division

LATHAM, NY (06/07/2010)(readMedia)-- A New York Army National Guard Soldier serving on active duty, 1st Lieutenant Joseph J. Theinert, age 24, died June 4, 2010 in Afghanistan while assigned to Army's 1st Squadron, 71st Cavalry, part of the 1st Brigade Combat Team of the 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry).

Lt. Theinert was killed when an improvised explosive device was detonated during a dismounted patrol.

Theinert was a Sag Harbor, N.Y. resident who volunteered for an Army National Guard program that allows Guard members to serve three years on active duty prior to returning to a local unit. He had been originally assigned to the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team in Syracuse, and detached to the 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum last year.

He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the State University of New York at Albany in the spring of 2008 and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in May of that year through the Siena College Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) Program.

He reported to Fort Drum in July of 2009 after completing the Armor Officer's Basic Leadership Course and was promoted to 1st Lieutenant in November of 2009. Theinert deployed with his unit to Afghanistan earlier this spring.

"The entire National Guard family extends our sympathies to the family, friends and comrades of 1st Lieutenant Joseph Theinert," said Brig. Gen. Patrick A. Murphy, The Adjutant General for the State of New York. "Lieutenant Theinert was twice the volunteer, first for service as a Citizen Soldier here in his home state and again to serve with the active Army's 10th Mountain Division."

He is survived by his parents James Theinert of Sag Harbor and Chrystyna Kestler of Mattituck and a brother, James Theinert, also of Sag Harbor.

His remains returned to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware on Saturday, June 5.

His awards include the Army Service Ribbon, the National Defense Service Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. He is expected to receive the Afghan Campaign Medal, the Purple Heart and the Combat Action Badge posthumously.

Thirty-two members of the New York Army National Guard, including Theinert, have been killed in action or died in a combat zone since Sept. 11, 2001. Nine of those deaths were in Afghanistan and 23 were in Iraq.

There are currently 819 members of the New York Army National Guard deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan or are on active duty. More than 180 Soldiers are deployed in Afghanistan with the 827th Engineer Company.

For information about the 10th Mountain Division and 1st Squadron, 71st Cavalry in Afghanistan contact Fort Drum Public Affairs Officer Ms. Julie Cupernall at 315-772-8286.