A family in America is in mourning following the death of their loved one killed on the Kenyan soil.
This follows the identification of 23-year-old Henry Mitch Mayfield from Chicago as the serviceman who was killed by al-Shaabab in Manda Airbase attack in Lamu.
Mayfield was one of the three Americans killed on Sunday, January 5 when al-Shabaab militants attacked Manda base. Two Department of Defence contractors were also killed in the dawn attack as two others sustained injuries.
Mayfield’s family told NBC 5 in Chicago about the soldier’s death, saying the U.S. Army had contacted them on the afternoon of Sunday, January 5.
According to his mother identified only as Carmonetta, he had last told her everything was fine at the base during a Facetime call on New Year’ Day.
“He loved his family and spending quality time with his siblings,” Carmoneta
Mayfield, who grew up in Chicago, joined the Army in June 2018 and graduated basic training in October.
His Facebook account seen by Gotta.news lists his place of work as Fort Rucker as of June 8, 2018 to the present day.
On Sunday evening, a woman thought to have shared more than friendship with Mayfield took to Facebook to mourn the fallen soldier.
The woman who calls herself B’Ajah MicOchea Crane said she had been opposed to Mayfield’s deployment to Kenya.
“I NEVER wanted you to deploy!! I can’t believe you’re gone .. this hurts so bad yoo! I just wish I could talk to you one last time! I can’t take this. There’s no way you left. This breaks my heart so bad Mayfield!!” she wrote.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of our teammates who lost their lives. As we honour their sacrifice, let us also harden our resolve.” said Commander of the US Africa Command, General Stephen Townsend in a statement on Sunday.
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