Staff Sgt. Zachary Hargrove, 32, was pronounced dead at a medical facility on Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, after being found unresponsive in his living quarters on May 3. The cause of death is under investigation.
Hargrove was a wheeled vehicle mechanic assigned to the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 84th Explosive Ordnance Disposal Battalion, 1st Infantry Division which is currently deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. This was Hargrove’s fourth combat deployment. He served three previous tours to Iraq, including one with the 1st Infantry Division Headquarters in 2010. This was his first deployment to Afghanistan.
Hargrove, a Wichita, Kan. native, joined the Army in September 1998. He was assigned to Fort Riley in August 2008.
Hargrove’s awards include six Army Commendation Medals, six Army Achievement Medals, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal with two campaign stars, and the NATO Medal.
