Stephen Cribben, 33, of Simi Valley, was killed over the weekend in Afghanistan. Christine Kim reports for the NBC4 News at 11 on Sunday, Nov. 5, 2017.
A soldier from Southern California was killed in Afghanistan over the weekend, the U.S. Army announced Sunday.
Sgt. 1st Class Stephen Cribben, 33, of Simi Valley, died Saturday in Logar Province, Afghanistan, from wounds sustained during combat in support of Operation Freedom's Sentinel.
He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group, Fort Carson, Colorado.
Cribben is survived by his wife -- his high school sweetheart -- and his two children, ages 3 and 5.
He comes from a family of military service. He enlisted in the Army at just 18 years old, during his senior year ar Royal High School in Simi Valley. He served 15 years in the Army.
His parents described him as a sheep dog, a protector and a man whose heart was bigger than the nation he loved so much.
"We are thankful he was surrounded by people he loved and trusted and we know he wasn't alone in the end," his mother Leslie Cribben said.
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The 33-year-old "was able to be a warrior and a husband and a father at the same time," his father Joe Cribben told NBC4.
Cribben's parents say he and his wife were planning on renewing their vows when he got back from this latest deployment.
His loved ones are now waiting to bury him on American soil -- something they knew was a possibility as he chose to defend out country with honor, pride and devotion.
"We’re gonna get through it because he would get through it if it was one of us, take one step at a time and move forward," Leslie Cribben said.
The incident is under investigation.
NBC4's Christine Kim contributed to this report.
