PULLMAN, Mich. — The Department of Defense has confirmed the death of Staff Sgt. Saul Fabian Gonzalez, 26, of Pullman, Michigan, who passed away earlier this week while serving in Erbil, Iraq, in a non-combat-related incident that remains under investigation.
Gonzalez was stationed in Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, where he was supporting Operation Inherent Resolve—the ongoing U.S. mission to assist Iraqi and coalition forces in the fight against the Islamic State group.
Assigned to D Troop, 2nd Squadron, 101st Combat Aviation Brigade, 101st Airborne Division out of Fort Campbell, Kentucky, Staff Sgt. Gonzalez was serving as a technical inspector. His unit and the broader Army community are now mourning the loss of a soldier described as dedicated, capable, and highly respected.
In a statement posted on social media, the 101st Combat Aviation Brigade remembered Gonzalez as an “outstanding non-commissioned officer” and praised his leadership and professionalism. “He served with honor, integrity, and a commitment to his mission and his brothers and sisters in arms,” the unit wrote. “We ask that the public keep his family and fellow soldiers in their thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.”
Details surrounding the circumstances of his death have not yet been made public, and the Pentagon has confirmed that an investigation is ongoing.
Gonzalez’s death has sent ripples of grief through his hometown of Pullman, a small but tight-knit community in western Michigan. Friends and neighbors remember him as a kind-hearted and determined young man who found purpose in service. He enlisted with a strong sense of duty and a deep desire to protect others, both at home and abroad.
“He was one of those rare people who made you feel safe, no matter where you were,” one former classmate shared. “He wanted to make a difference, and he did.”
Gonzalez’s death serves as a sobering reminder of the risks service members face every day, even outside direct combat zones. As of now, approximately 2,500 U.S. troops remain in Iraq as part of the Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve.
Funeral arrangements and memorial service details will be announced by the family in the coming days. The community of Pullman and the broader military family are expected to come together to honor a life lived with courage, loyalty, and sacrifice.
Staff Sgt. Saul Fabian Gonzalez is survived by his loved ones, who now face the unimaginable grief of losing a son, a brother, and a friend far too soon. His legacy lives on in the lives he touched and the country he served with pride.
May he rest in peace, and may his memory be a blessing to all who knew him.