Staff Sergeant Kashif “Kash” M. Memon was born on March 16, 1981, in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and was raised in Houston, Texas. Kash served his country in two uniforms and across more than a decade of service.
He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 2001 as an infantryman. Stationed at Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, he deployed to Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Singapore and Afghanistan and rose to infantry squad leader. After six years as a Marine, he enlisted in the U.S. Army in 2007, again as an infantryman, and deployed to Iraq as a squad leader from Fort Hood, Texas.
Kash wanted to do more for the people caught in the middle of war. In 2010 he graduated from the Civil Affairs Qualification Course at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and joined Company B, 96th Civil Affairs Battalion (Airborne), 95th Civil Affairs Brigade (Airborne), as a Civil Affairs team engineer. In that role he served as a vital link between coalition forces, local leaders and the civilian population, working to build lasting stability in a volatile region.
In 2012 he deployed to Uruzgan Province, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. On October 25, 2012, he died of wounds suffered when his unit was attacked with small-arms fire in Khas Uruzgan. He was 31. His awards include the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster, the Marine Corps Combat Action Ribbon, the Marine Corps and Army Good Conduct Medals, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the NATO Medal, the Combat Action Badge and the Parachutist Badge.
Those who served beside Kash remember his humor, generosity and compassion. “He was the type of person who would take the shirt off his back if you needed it,” a Civil Affairs course teammate said. “He was funny, caring and would brighten up the day for anyone.” His greatest pride was his family; he lit up whenever he talked about his wife and children. On his last call from Afghanistan he was overjoyed because he and Christina were expecting another baby. His daughter was born after his death, and he never had the chance to meet her.
Kash is survived by his wife, Christina, and their children, Humayun, Mikhail and Victoria. His legacy of selfless service lives on through them, through the soldiers of the 96th Civil Affairs Battalion and through everyone who had the privilege of serving at his side.
Sources
- ARSOF History: Kashif M. Memon
- Military Times Honor the Fallen: Army Staff Sgt. Kashif M. Memon
- eNews Park Forest (DoD release): DOD Identifies Two Army Casualties, October 27, 2012
- Family-provided records on file with MVF: Kashif Memon bio and 2026 honoree information sheet
