US Special Forces Killed in Jordan Identified

The U.S. Defense Department has identified the three Army special forces soldiers killed on Friday in Jordan.

The Green Berets were Staff Sgt. Matthew C. Lewellen, 27, of Lawrence, Kansas; Staff Sgt. Kevin J. McEnroe, 30, of Tucson, Arizona; and Staff Sgt. James F. Moriarty, 27, of Kerrville, Texas, according to a press release Sunday from the Pentagon.

They were assigned 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Campbell in Kentucky, the release states.

The soldiers were killed Nov. 4 in Jafr, Jordan, when the convoy they were riding in came under fire while entering a military base.

The incident remains under investigation.

The Agence France-Presse News agency quoted a U.S. defense official as saying it was a "green on blue" incident, meaning friendly forces attacked U.S. personnel, according to the BBC.

The BBC also reported that the U.S. personnel failed to stop when approaching the gate at Al-Jafr Air Base and were fired upon by security forces.

Jordan is a key U.S. ally and member of a U.S.-led military coalition fighting militants affiliated with the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, or ISIS, which parts of neighboring Iraq and Syria.

Lewellen, an eight-year veteran of the Army, was serving his third tour of duty overseas, according to a separate release from the service.

His awards include the Bronze Star Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon (numeral 2), Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, and NATO Medal, the release states.

McEnroe was also an eight-year veteran of the service and serving his third overseas deployment, the release states.

His awards include the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon (numeral 2), and Army Service Ribbon, it states.

Moriarty, who served five years in the Army, was on his second overseas tour, the release states. His awards include the Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon (numeral 2), and Army Service Ribbon, it states.

-- Matthew Cox contributed to this report.

-- Brendan McGarry can be reached at brendan.mcgarry@military.com. Follow him on Twitter at @Brendan_McGarry.