Indiana National Guard Captain Dies in Iraq in Non-Combat Incident

Capt. Eric Hart, 34, passed away while supporting U.S. operations against ISIS; the incident is under investigation.

Capt. Eric Richard Hart, 34, of Indianapolis, Indiana, died Saturday in Iraq from a non-combat-related incident, according to the Department of Defense.
Hart was assigned to the Headquarters & Headquarters Battalion of the 38th Infantry Division, Indiana National Guard, based in Indianapolis.
He was in Iraq as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, supporting U.S. efforts against ISIS and training Iraqi forces.
The U.S. currently maintains around 2,500 troops in Iraq, focusing on counter-ISIS operations and military training, with plans to reduce troop levels by 2026.
The cause of Hart's death remains under investigation, and his passing adds to the 937 non-combat deaths recorded during the U.S. military's presence in Iraq since 2003.