Army Staff Sgt. Cynthia R. Taylor

Died April 16, 2011 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom

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39, of Columbus, Ga.; assigned to the 101st Special Troops Battalion, 101st Sustainment Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, Ky.; died April 16 at Forward Operating Base Gamberi, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when an Afghan National Army soldier attacked her with multiple grenades. Also killed were Capt. Charles E. Ridgley Jr., Sgt. 1st Class Charles L. Adkins, Sgt. Linda L. Pierre and Spc. Joseph B. Cemper.

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Bomb kills Columbus soldier in Afghanistan

The Associated Press

COLUMBUS, Ga. — The Defense Department says a soldier from Columbus was among five killed when a bomb exploded at a meeting in Afghanistan.

The Pentagon says 39-year-old Staff Sgt. Cynthia Renea Taylor was among those killed on Saturday when an Afghan National Army soldier detonated a bomb vest at Forward Operating Base Gamberi, Nangarhar province.

Taylor served as a vehicle mechanic with the 101st Special Troops Battalion, 101st Sustainment Brigade, 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Ky.

Taylor joined the Army in November 2003. Her awards include the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, Afghanistan Campaign Medal and the Iraq Campaign Medal.

Taylor is survived by a daughter, Maggie J. Taylor of Clarksville, Tenn.; a son, Joseph L. Goodwin of Oak Grove, Ky.; and her mother, Judy A. Hart of Clarksville.