U.S. Army soldier dies after serving Gaza pier mission

A tragic incident has recently come to light as the U.S. Army confirmed the passing of Sgt. Quandarius Davon Stanley, a soldier who was injured during last summer’s Gaza pier mission. The 23-year-old soldier succumbed to his injuries on October 31, according to an online obituary. Stanley was one of three soldiers who were injured during the Gaza pier mission, which aimed to provide humanitarian aid to Gazans amidst the Israel-Hamas conflict.

The Biden administration had initiated the mission in an effort to establish a temporary pier to facilitate the delivery of aid into Gaza. The mission, which took place between May and July, incurred a cost of nearly $230 million but fell short of delivering the promised amount of aid. Various challenges such as adverse weather conditions and miscalculations contributed to the mission’s shortcomings, although the military deemed it a success.

Colonel John Gray, the commander of the 7th Transportation Brigade Expeditionary (TBX), where Stanley served, praised the young soldier as an instrumental and well-respected first-line leader during the mission to provide humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza. Stanley had recently retired from the military and was undergoing long-term medical care at the time of his passing.

In a statement provided to Reuters, the Army confirmed Stanley’s death and highlighted his contributions to the mission. Additionally, it was revealed that two other soldiers had sustained injuries during the mission, one with a sprained ankle and the other with a minor back injury. The third service member, who was not identified at the time, was injured while supporting the mission and was evacuated to an Israeli hospital for treatment.

U.S. Vice Admiral Brad Cooper reassured that the operations would continue with a focus on force protection. The military remains vigilant in assessing the risks and ensuring the safety of its personnel involved in missions like the Gaza pier operation.

Fox News Digital reached out to the U.S. Army for further comments on the matter but did not receive an immediate response. The loss of Sgt. Quandarius Davon Stanley serves as a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by military personnel in the line of duty.

Andrea Margolis, a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business, contributed to this report. Readers can reach out with story tips to andrea.margolis@fox.com.