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Officials identify Americans killed in Syria terror attack

The US Defense Department has identified three of the four Americans – including a 35-year-old woman from upstate New York – killed by an ISIS suicide bomber in Syria.

Navy Chief Cryptologic Technician Shannon M. Kent, 35, of upstate New York; Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Jonathan R. Farmer, 37, of Boynton Beach, Florida; and civilian operations support specialist Scott A. Wirtz of St. Louis, Missouri, were killed Wednesday in Manbij, officials said.

The name of the fourth person killed, a civilian contractor, has not yet been released by the department.

All three died “as a result of wounds sustained from a suicide improvised explosive device,” according to a statement from the Pentagon.

They were supporting Operation Inherent Resolve, the US-led coalition battling ISIS in Syria and Iraq.

Kent, who enlisted on Dec. 11, 2003, was a graduate of the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, California, and assigned to Cryptologic Warfare Activity 66, based out of Fort Meade, Maryland, according to the Military Times.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family, friends, and teammates of Chief Petty Officer Kent during this extremely difficult time,” Cmdr. Joseph Harrison, commanding officer of CWA 66, said in a statement.

“She was a rock star, an outstanding chief petty officer, and leader to many in the Navy Information Warfare Community.”

Kent was a recipient of two Joint Service Commendation Medals, the Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medal, an Army Commendation Medal, and a Joint Service Achievement Medal.

She also held an Iraq Campaign Medal and a Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.

“Chief Kent’s drive, determination and tenacity were infectious. Although she has left us way too soon, she will not be forgotten, and her legacy will live on with us,” said Senior Chief Cryptologic Technician Denise Vola, CWA 66′s command senior enlisted leader.

Farmer, an Army Green Beret, was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 5th Special Forces Group out of Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

He joined the Army on March 30, 2005, and graduated in 2007 from the Special Forces Qualification Course as an engineer sergeant and was assigned to 5th Group, the Military Times reported.

In 2016, he earned his commission after attending the Special Forces Warrant Officer Candidate School.

He served on six combat tours, including in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2007 and 2009; Operation New Dawn in 2010; Operation Enduring Freedom in 2012; and Operation Inherent Resolve.

Farmer is survived by his wife, four children and his parents.

Wirtz, a former Navy SEAL, was assigned to the Defense Intelligence Agency as an operations support specialist.

He was an April 1998 graduate of the grueling Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training program, served for 10 years and left the service as a special warfare operator first class.

In February 2017, he joined the DIA and completed three deployments for the agency in the Middle East, earning at least two awards for his service.

Wirtz was assigned to the Defense Intelligence Agency as an operations support specialist.

The bombing, for which ISIS claimed responsibility, came less than a month after President Trump declared the terror group defeated and ordered all 2,000 US troops in the country to be withdrawn.

https://nypost.com/2019/01/18/officials-identify-americans-killed-in-syria-terror-attack/