Sergeant Kyle B. Osborn was born on August 5, 1986, in Lafayette, Indiana, the son of Creigh D. Osborn and Miriam H. Shively Osborn. He grew up in the Stockwell area of Tippecanoe County and graduated in 2005 from McCutcheon High School, where he played football and wrestled. As a senior he was captain of the wrestling team and a state qualifier. Neighbors remember a polite, hardworking young man who threw himself into everything he did, including showing cattle at the county fair.
After high school Kyle attended Minnesota State University in Mankato. He entered the Army on October 18, 2007, as an infantryman and quickly distinguished himself. His training included Airborne School, Combat Lifesaver, Combatives Level 1, the Warrior Leader Course, where he made the Commandant’s List, the Pre-Ranger Course, Ranger School, the Sniper Course and the Jumpmaster Course. He earned the Expert Infantryman Badge and the Ranger Tab. He served with the 1st Battalion, 509th Infantry (Airborne), the opposing force at the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk, Louisiana, before joining the 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team in Vicenza, Italy.
On October 16, 2010, Kyle married Maggie Klason in Delano, Minnesota. In 2012 he deployed to Afghanistan as a senior sniper team leader with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry. A fellow leader called him “my fellow jumpmaster, my go-to sniper and a fellow Ranger” and described him as an outstanding leader and one of the most motivated and dedicated soldiers he knew.
On September 13, 2012, during an important battalion mission in Muqer District, Ghazni Province, Kyle’s unit was engaged by a large enemy force using small arms, rocket-propelled grenades and recoilless rifle fire. Kyle was struck while directing his team’s fire. He kept engaging the enemy and died of his wounds with his brothers by his side. He was 26.
Kyle’s decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, two Army Commendation Medals, two Army Achievement Medals, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the NATO Medal, the Army Superior Unit Award, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Expert Infantryman Badge, the Senior Parachutist Badge and the Ranger Tab.
When he came home, the Lafayette community lined State Street to welcome him, and a public memorial service was held at McCutcheon High School. He was buried with full military honors next to his grandfather at Yorktown Cemetery in Stockwell. Honoring Kyle’s wishes, Maggie established a donation trust to support wounded warriors and a scholarship fund to help Army spouses further their education. Kyle is survived by Maggie, his mother Miriam, his father Creigh and Creigh’s wife Christa, his siblings Katlyn and Kade and his grandmother Esther Shively.
As he was directing the Team's fire, Kyle was struck by enemy fire. While still engaging the enemy, Kyle died of wounds with his brothers by his side.
Memorial Valor Foundation
Sources
- Journal & Courier (Legacy.com): Sgt. Kyle B. Osborn obituary
- Stars and Stripes: Vicenza-based soldier dies of wounds sustained in Afghanistan
- KPBS (DoD release): DoD identifies Army casualty
- WTHR: Indiana hometowns mourn slain military members
- Family-provided records on file with MVF: Kyle Osborn bio
