Fort Richardson soldier killed in Afghanistan

The Army said today that Pfc. Renee Sinkler, a Fort Richardson-based soldier, was killed in a nighttime attack on her vehicle in Afghanistan this week.

Sinkler, 23, from Chadbourn, N.C., was the second female soldier from 109th Transportation Co., the "Rough Riders," to die in combat since the 150-soldier unit deployed in July. She was in the exposed gunner's turret of an armored MRAP vehicle when it was struck by a rocket-propelled grenade, the Army said.

Three other soldiers in the vehicle were uninjured in the attack.

Sinkler was married. She arrived at Fort Richardson in January 2010 after joining the Army in August 2009. Her family has been notified of her death, the Army said.

Sinkler, a motor transport operator, was in a convoy en route to Forward Operating Base Killaghey in Baghlan Province on Wednesday when the attack occurred, about 11:40 p.m. Afghanistan time. She died about four hours later.

The 109th Transportation Co. is part of the 17th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 3rd Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, at Fort Richardson. The transportation company deployed in July for a 12-month tour.

Two other members of the 109th were killed by a roadside bomb in September: Pfc. Jaysine Petree, 19, of Guam, and Pfc. William Dawson, 20, of Mississippi.

Fisherman's Choice Charters