Armed Forces News

Senior Chief Petty Officer Scott Cooper Drayton, 42, an explosive ordnance disposal technician, died Thanksgiving Day while in the line of duty, the Pentagon reported. Cooper, a 23-year Navy veteran, became the first U.S. service member to die in Syria during the ongoing combat mission against the Islamic State, the Wall Street Journal reported. Drayton was attached to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group 2 when he died. His remains arrived at the military mortuary at Dover Air Force Base, Del., Nov. 27 — three days after he was killed by an improvised explosive device.