1st Special Forces Group (Airborne)
Assignment: Company A, 2nd Battalion
ODA: 145
18 Z
Date KIA: 2 October 2002
Location: Republic of the Philippines.
Action: Hostile
SFC Mark Wayne Jackson was killed in action on 2 October 2002 at Camp Enrile Malagutay, Zamboanga, Philippines as the result of a suicide attack. He was the Operations Sergeant for ODA 145.
Sergeant First Class Mark Wayne Jackson was born at Saint Luke Hospital in Saginaw, Michigan to the proud parents of William Alva and Janice Marie Jackson on June 7th, 1962.
He spent his youth between Saginaw, Michigan, Bridge Port, Michigan and Swan Valley, Michigan. While growing up, Sergeant First Class Jackson balanced his time between academics, hunting, fishing, football, wrestling and track. He graduated from the Swan Valley School system in June 1981. After graduation, Sergeant First Class Jackson got a job as a mason tender in Tawas, Michigan, and later enrolled in Delta College.
Sergeant First Class Jackson started his military career in 1983 with attendance to Basic Training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, as a member of the United States Army Reserve. Additionally, he completed the Motor Transport Operators course and on the job training as an artillery soldier in B Battery, 4th Battalion, 38th Field Artillery at Bad Axe, Michigan. While assigned there he was promoted from Private First Class through Sergeant.
In February of 1986, Sergeant First Class Jackson joined the Active Army and attended the cannon crewman course at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and continued on to Airborne School at Fort Benning, Georgia, as a Private First Class. He was assigned to C Battery, 1st Battalion, 319th Field Artillery Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina. While assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division, he attended a Combat Lifesaver Course, Unit Armors Course and Jungle Warfare Training at Fort Sherman, Panama. He was promoted to Specialist in January 1987.
In November 1987, Sergeant First Class Jackson was assigned to A Battery, 2nd Battalion, 20th Field Artillery Regiment in Hanau, Germany. He participated in numerous training exercises, attended Primary Leadership Development Course (PLDC), and completed Basic Non-commissioned Officers Course (BNOC). He was promoted to Sergeant in November 1988.
In March 1990, Sergeant First Class Jackson was assigned to the 18th Airborne Corps, Noncommissioned Officers Course where he taught PLDC and BNOC and acted as the Reenlistment NCO. While assigned to the 18th Airborne Corps, he was promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant and attended the Instructor Training Course, Ranger Course, Advanced Noncommissioned Officer Course, and the Jumpmaster Course.
In August 1993, Sergeant First Class Jackson volunteered for Special Forces Training. He graduated from the Special Forces Weapons Sergeants Course at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and went on to complete the Basic Military Language Course for Persian Farsi in August 1994.
In September 1994, Sergeant First Class Jackson was assigned to Company C, 1st Battalion, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. He served on Operational Detachment Alpha 536. During his time in the 5th Special Forces Group, he participated in numerous overseas deployments to Kuwait, Jordan, Bahrain, and Operation Uphold Democracy in Haiti. Additionally, he attended the Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape High Risk course, Tank Commander Certification Course, Aviation in Foreign Internal Defense Course, and the Special Forces Assistant Operations Course. In November 1998, Sergeant First Class Jackson attended the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, California, for basic Arabic and graduated from in December 1999.
In December 1999, Sergeant First Class Jackson was assigned to Company A, 2nd Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Lewis, Washington, and became a member of Operational Detachment Alpha 142. He served as the Assistant Operations Sergeant for numerous deployments in South East Asia.
In August 2002, Sergeant First Class Jackson was assigned as the Operations Sergeant of Operational Detachment Alpha 145. On October 2nd 2002, while participating in Operation Enduring Freedom, Sergeant First Class Jackson was killed in the Republic of the Philippines.
Awards: Legion of Merit, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, the Army Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters, the Joint Service Achievement Medal, the Army Achievement Medal with five oak leaf clusters, the Southwest Asia Service Ribbon with Bronze Service Star, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with arrowhead, the Army Good Conduct Medal fifth award, the National Defense Service Ribbon with Bronze Star, the Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon with three device, the Army Service Ribbon, and the Army Overseas Service Ribbon. Sergeant First Class Jackson's decorations include the Expert Infantry Badge, the Master Parachutists Badge, the Military Free Fall Badge, the Special Forces Tab, the Ranger Tab, the Jordanian Parachutist Badge, the Bahraini Parachutist Badge, the Russian Parachutist Badge, the Korean Parachutist Badge, and the Royal Thai Army Parachutist Badge, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines Merit Medal (Posthumously).
Sergeant First Class Jackson is survived by his father William, mother Janice, brother Richard, and sister Kimberly.
Assignment: USASOC
ODA: 18 D
Date KIA: 25 August 2005 OIF
Location: Iraq
Action: Hostile
Master Sgt. Ivica Jerak died Aug. 25, 2005, while conducting combat operations in Iraq against known enemies of the United States of America.
He was born Oct. 12, 1962 in Debeljak, former Republic of Yugoslavia and graduated from the Center for Education of Personnel in Zadar, former Republic of Yugoslavia in July 1981.
He entered the U.S. Army as a combat medic Jan. 19, 1988, and after completion of Initial Entry Training, was assigned to the 690th Medical Company, Fort Benning, Ga. Since that time, Jerak served in the 3rd Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) and 1st Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne). His last assignment was as an assistant team sergeant assigned to the U.S. Army Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, N.C.
Jerak completed several military courses while serving in the United States Army to include the Pathfinder Course, the Ranger Course, the Basic Airborne Course, the Static Line Jumpmaster Course, the Special Forces Assessment and Selection Course, the Special Operations Medical Course, the Emergency Medical Technician- Paramedic Course, the Military Freefall Course, the Jumpmaster Course, and the Advanced Noncommissioned Officer Course.
Jerak’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal for valor, the Bronze Star Medal (3), the Purple Heart (2), the Meritorious Service Medal (3), the Joint Service Commendation Medal for valor, the Army Commendation Medal (4), the Joint Service Achievement Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Presidential Unit Citation, the Meritorious Unit Commendation, the Army Superior Unit Award, the Army Good Conduct Medal (5), the National Defense Service Medal with bronze service star, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Southwest Asia Service Medal with two bronze service stars, the Kosovo Campaign Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Armed Forces Service Medal, the Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon with numeral three, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the NATO Medal (2), the Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia), the Kuwait Medal (Government of Kuwait), the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Expert Field Medical Badge, the Senior Parachutist Badge, the Pathfinder Badge, the Military Freefall Jumpmaster Badge, the Ranger Tab, the Special Forces Tab and the Driver and Mechanic Badge. He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart and the Defense Meritorious Service Medal.
He is survived by his wife, Hye Jerak and his mother, Milka Jerak.
7th Special Forces Group (Airborne)
Assignment: Company C, 2nd Battalion
ODA:
18 D
Date KIA: 26 April 2005 OEF
Location: Khanaqin, Afghanistan
Action: Hostile - Small Arms
Sgt. 1st Class Allen C. Johnson, 31, was a Special Forces medical sergeant assigned to 1st Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne), at Fort Bragg N. C.
Johnson died April 26, 2005, when his unit was attacked by enemy small arms fire during a combat foot patrol in Khanaqin, Afghanistan.
A native of Los Molinos, Calif., Johnson entered the Army in October 1991 as an infantryman. After completing infantry and airborne training at Fort Benning, Ga. in February 1992, he was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment at Fort Lewis, Wash.
In 1994, he was assigned to the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment at Fort Polk, La., and later served with 1st Battalion, 509th Infantry Regiment there.
After changing his military occupational specialty from infantryman to corrections specialist in 1996, Johnson was assigned as a team leader to the U.S. Disciplinary Barracks at Fort Leavenworth, Kan. After being reassigned in 1998 for two years with the 704th Military Police Battalion at Fort Lewis as a squad leader, he was accepted into Special Forces training at Fort Bragg.
Johnson arrived at the 1st Special Warfare Training Group (Airborne) in April 2000 to begin the more than two years of intense training it would take for him to become a Special Forces medical sergeant. He was assigned to the 7th SFG in July 2002.
Johnson's military education includes the Basic Airborne Course, the Primary Leadership Development Course, the Basic Noncommissioned Officer Course, the Special Forces Qualification Course and the Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape Course.
Awards: Joint Service Achievement Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, the Army Service Ribbon, the Parachutist Badge, the Expert Infantryman Badge and the Special Forces Tab. He was posthumously awarded the Silver Star, the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the Meritorious Service Medal and the Combat Medical Badge.
Johnson is survived by his wife, Eunice, and three children, Stacy, Naomi and Joshua.
7th Special Forces Group (Airborne)
Assignment: Company A, 2nd Battalion
ODA: 741
18 C
Date KIA: 12 August 2007 OEF
Location: Bar Kalakney Village, Afghanistan
Action: Hostile
Sgt. 1st Class Jeffrey D. Kettle was killed in action on August 12, 2007 near Bar Kalakney Village, Khogyani District, Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan, while serving with ODA 741, A Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne).
Kettle, 31, was a Special Forces engineer sergeant assigned to ODA 741, Company A, 2nd Bn., 7th SFG(A), Fort Bragg, NC. Kettle, of Texas City, TX, enlisted as an infantryman in September 1993. He served as an infantryman in Hawaii in 1994.
He then served with the 1 st Bn., 503 rd Airborne Infantry at Caserma Ederle, Italy in 1995. After serving six years at Fort Benning, Ga., in various positions Kettle was assigned to here to 3rd Bn., 505 th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division.
He attended the Special Forces Qualification Course, graduating in 2006 and was assigned as an engineer sergeant with A Co, 2/7th SFG (A). He spent one tour of duty in Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) in 2003 and had recently begun his second tour of duty in Afghanistan with A Co, 2/7 th SFG(A) in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF).
Kettle's military education includes the Basic Airborne Course, the Air Assault Course, the Ranger Course, the Warrior Leaders Course, the Basic Noncommissioned Officer's Course, the Combat Lifesaver Course, Special Forces Qualification Course, the Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape Course, the Parachutist Jumpmasters Course and the Advanced Noncommissioned Officer's Course.
Awards: Bronze Star Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Valorous Unit Award, Army Superior Unit Award, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Combat Infantry Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge, Ranger and Special Forces Tabs.
He is survived by his wife, Brandi, and sons Jeffrey and Logan of Raeford, NC, and parents Ronald and Cynthia of League City, Texas.
5th Special Forces Group (Airborne)
Assignment: 3rd Battalion
ODA:
18 C
Date KIA: 11 October 2005
Location: Muqdadiyah, Iraq
Action: Hostile
Staff Sgt. Matthew A. Kimmell, 30, a Special Forces engineer sergeant, assigned to 3rd Battalion, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) died 11 October 2005 in Muqdadiyah, Iraq, when an Improvised Explosive Device detonated near his Humvee.
A native of Indiana, Kimmell entered the Indiana National Guard Jan. 11, 1994.
He completed Basic and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Benning, Ga., and then began his active duty Army career there as an infantryman in February 1995. Kimmell was promoted to the rank of sergeant Jan. 1, 2003 with weapons squad, 3rd Platoon, C Company, 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment.
In June 2003, he began the vigorous, intensive two-year training to become a member of the Army's Special Forces.
Kimmell successfully completed the Special Forces Qualification Course in November 2004 and then was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 5th SFG (A) at Fort Campbell, Ky. He was promoted to the rank of staff sergeant March 1, 2005. He deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in June 2005.
His military education included the Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape Course, the Special Forces Assessment and Selection Course, the Special Forces Qualification Course, the Basic Combat Training Course, the Advanced Individual Training Course for Infantryman, the Basic Noncommissioned Officer Course, the Basic Airborne Course, the Jungle Course, the Special Forces Assessment and Selection Course, the Ranger Course and the Primary Leadership Development Course.
Awards: Army Achievement Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the NCO Professional Development Ribbon, the Army Service Ribbon, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Expert Infantryman Badge, the Basic Parachutist Badge, the Ranger Tab and the Special Forces Tab. He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the Meritorious Service Medal and the Combat Infantryman Badge.
Kimmell is survived by his wife, Mylissa, of Worthington, Ind.; his parents, Larry and Jeanne, his brother, Jeremy, and sister, Susanne, all of Paxton, Ind.
Assignment: USASOC
ODA: 18
Date KIA: 28 August 2005
Location: Husaybah, Iraq
Action: Non-Hostile
Assigned to Headquarters Company, U.S. Army Special Operations Command at Fort Bragg died Aug. 28 at the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Landstuhl, Germany, from wounds sustained Aug. 25 in Husaybah, Iraq, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his position.
Sgt. 1st Class Kolath served with the 4th Battalion, 41st Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Battalion 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) and the 1st Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne). His last assignment was as a team member assigned to the U.S. Army Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, N.C.
He is survived by his children, Vivian Schondelmeyer, Autumn and Mariah Kolath, and mother, Mary Kolath.
Sgt. 1st Class Obediah J. Kolath, 32, died of injuries from an IED blast that resulted in the death of three other USASOC Soldiers whose deaths were announced on Aug. 27.
Kolath entered the U.S. Army Mar. 10, 1992, as a fire support specialist. After completion of initial entry training, was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 29th Field Artillery Regiment in Germany.
His military awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, two Army Commendation Medals, five Army Achievement Medals, four Army Good Conduct Medals, the National Defense Service Medal with bronze service star, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War On Terrorism Service Medal, the NCO Professional Development Ribbon with numeral three, the Army Service Ribbon, two Overseas Service Ribbons, the NATO Ribbon, the Special Forces Tab, the Ranger Tab, and the Parachutist Badge.
Kolath was posthumously recommended for the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, the Bronze Star, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal and the Purple Heart.
10th Special Forces Group (Airborne)
Assignment: Company B, 1st Battalion
ODA: 021
18
Date KIA: 10 November 2007 OEF
Location: Tagab Valley, Afghanistan
Action: Hostile
Staff Sgt. Patrick F. Kutschbach, 25, was killed in action on Nov. 10, while conducting combat operations in the southern end of the Tagab Valley while serving with Operational Detachment Alpha 021 of Company B, 1st Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne).
He deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2007 as a member of the International Security Assistance Force - Afghanistan. He had deployed to various locations in support of the Global War on Terrorism and this was his first deployment to Afghanistan.
Kutschbach, a native of Pennsylvania, volunteered for military service and enlisted into the Army in Oct. 2003 as a Special Forces candidate. In 2004 he earned the coveted "Green Beret."
Kutschbach's military education include? the Basic Noncommissioned Officer Course, Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape Course, Warrior Leaders Course, Special Forces Qualification Course, and the Basic Airborne Course.
Awards: Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, two Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbons, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, ISAF NATO Medal, Special Forces Tab, Combat Infantryman Badge, and the Parachutist Badge.
Kutschbach is survived by his wife, Ginger, son, Bastian, of Atoka, Tenn., father, David, of Pittsburgh, Pa., mother, Debbie Huffner, and brothers David and Andrew, of McKees Rocks, Pa.
3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne)
Assignment: Company C, 2nd Battalion
ODA:
18 C
Date KIA: 29 August 2003
Location: Deh Chopan, Zabul Province, Afghanistan
Action: Accident - Fast Rope Infiltration
Sgt. 1st Class Mitchell A. Lane, 34, was a Special Forces engineer sergeant assigned to Company C, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Bragg, N.C.
He died from injuries he suffered from a fall while conducting a fast rope infiltration from a helicopter during a night combat assault Aug. 29, 2003 near Deh Chopan in Afghanistan's Zabul province.
A native of California, Lane enlisted in the Army National Guard in May 1987. He later volunteered for active duty as a combat engineer in October 1991. He subsequently served in a number of engineer units at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., until he was selected for Special Forces training in 1995.
After completion of the Special Forces Qualification Course, Lane served in several assignments with the 3rd SFG.
Awards: Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Joint Commendation Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the NATO Medal, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Parachutist Badge, the Scuba Diver Badge and the Special Forces Tab.
Lane is survived by his wife, two children, his parents and three brothers.
3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne)
Assignment: Company C, 2nd Battalion
ODA:
18 E
Date KIA: 15 January 2014
Location: Parwan Province, Afghanistan
Action: Hostile - Small Arms Fire
Sgt. Daniel T. Lee, 28, assigned to 2nd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Bragg, N.C., died Jan. 15 of wounds received when enemy forces attacked his unit with small arms fire while on dismounted patrol in Parwan Province, Afghanistan.
Lee enlisted as an infantryman in the U.S. Army in October 2007, completing his initial entry training at Fort Benning, Ga. His first assignment was with the 2nd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, at Fort Lewis, Wash. While serving as a scout with the 1st Cav. Reg., Lee deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2009. Upon his return, Lee volunteered for Special Forces Assessment and Selection.
Lee started his Special Forces training in March 2011 and earned his Green Beret in 2012 when he graduated as a Special Forces Communication Sergeant. He arrived to the 2nd Bn., 3rd SFG (A), in August 2013 and was assigned to Company C and deployed shortly after in support of Operation Enduring Freedom-Afghanistan. This was his first deployment to Afghanistan.
Lee’s military education includes Basic Combat Training, the Basic Airborne Course, the Warrior Leader’s Course, the Advanced Leader’s Course, the Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape Course, and the Special Forces Qualification Course.
Lee’s awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Iraqi Campaign Medal with two Campaign Stars, the Global War on Terrorism Medal, the Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the Basic Parachutist Badge and the Special Forces Tab.
He is survived by his wife, child and parents.
7th Special Forces Group (Airborne)
Assignment: 2nd Battalion
ODA:
18 Z
Date KIA: 15 June 2007 OEF
Location: Shkin, Afghanistan
Action: Hostile - Small Arms
Master Sgt. Arthur L. Lilley, 35, a Special Forces team sergeant assigned to 2nd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Ft. Bragg, N.C., died June 15 of wounds sustained from enemy small arms fire during combat operations in the Paktika Province, near Shkin, Afghanistan.
Lilley, a native of Smithfield, Pa., enlisted as an infantryman in 1990. His first assignment was with the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) where he served in Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm. He then transferred to 1st Battalion (Airborne), 508th Infantry Regiment, 173rd Infantry Brigade, Camp Ederle, Italy in September 1992, where he served for just over two years. In 1995, he volunteered to become a Special Forces Soldier.
Lilley graduated from the Special Forces Qualification Course in 1996 and was assigned 1st Bn., 7th SFG, as a Special Forces engineer sergeant. In 2000, after serving four years in 7th SFG, he was assigned to the 96th Civil Affairs Battalion at Fort Bragg, N.C., where he served as an engineer sergeant and then first sergeant. In August 2005, Lilley was assigned to 2nd Bn., 7th SFG and served there as an Operational Detachment - Alpha team sergeant until his death.
His military education also includes the Basic and Advanced Noncommissioned Officer Courses, Special Operations Target Interdiction Course, Civil Affairs Qualification Course, Basic and Advanced Airborne Courses, Air Assault Course, Spanish Language Course, and the First Sergeants Course.
Awards: Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia) , Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait), Expert Infantryman Badge, Combat Infantryman Badge, Master Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge, and Special Forces Tab.
Lilley is survived by his wife, Christine, daughter, Mackenzie and son, Cole of Spring Lake, N.C.; parents Arthur and Elizabeth Lilley of Smithfield, Pa.; brother Michael Lilley and wife Katya half-brothers Bruce Sanford and wife Mary and James Sanford and wife Beth; halfsisters Sandra Horton and husband Rick and Jessica Barnett; grandmother Evelyn Barrett; grandparents Arthur and Edith Lilley, Ralph and Louise Barrett, and Jerry and Sondra Tate.
7th Special Forces Group (Airborne)
Assignment: Company C, 2nd Battalion
ODA: 535
18 D
Date KIA: 22 August 2009 OEF
Location: Yakhchal, Afghanistan
Action: Hostile
Staff Sgt. Andrew T. Lobosco, 29, was killed Aug. 22, 2009, while conducting a dismounted patrol in the vicinity of Yakhchal, Afghanistan, in support of combat operations while serving with Company C, 2nd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne).
He deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in July 2009 as a member of the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force - Afghanistan. This was his second deployment in support of the Global War on Terror. He was a Special Forces medical sergeant.
Lobosco a native of Somerville, N.J., enlisted into the U.S. Army January 2004 as a Special Forces candidate. He completed the Special Forces Qualification Course January 2007 and earned the coveted "Green Beret."
Lobosco's military education includes the Warrior Leader's Course, Basic NCO Course, Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape Course, Basic Airborne Course, and Special Forces Qualification Course.
Awards: Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, Parachutist Badge, and the Special Forces Tab.
Lobosco is survived by his mother Bonnie Lobosco, father Robert Lobosco and sister, Lisa Lobosco of Bridgewater, N.J.
7th Special Forces Group (Airborne)
Assignment: 3rd Battalion
ODA:
18 B
Date KIA: 19 May 2006 OEF
Location: Oruzgan Province, Afghanistan
Action: Hostile - Small Arms
Staff Sgt. Christian Longsworth, 26, a Special Forces weapons sergeant assigned to 3rd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Bragg, died May 19, 2006, when he was fatally struck by enemy small arms fire during a combat patrol in the Oruzgan Province, Afghanistan.
Longsworth, a native of Newark, N.J., enlisted as an infantryman in 1998.
His first assignment was with the 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment at Fort Drum, N.Y., where he served more than two years. In 2001, he transferred to Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., where he served for almost three years as a member of the 6th Ranger Training Battalion cadre team. He rose to the position of Ranger Instructor before volunteering to become a Special Forces Soldier.
Longsworth graduated from the Special Forces Qualification Course in February 2006 and was assigned 3rd Bn., 7th SFG, as a Special Forces weapons sergeant. He deployed in March to Afghanistan.
His military education also includes the Warrior Leader Course, Basic Noncommissioned Officer Course, Basic Instructor Training Course, Ranger Course, Pathfinder Course, Special Forces Assessment and Selection Course, Special Forces Qualification Course, Basic and Advanced Airborne Courses, and Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape Course.
Awards: Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Expert Infantryman Badge, Pathfinder Badge, Senior Parachutist Badge, Ranger Tab and Special Forces Tab. He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star for Valor, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal and Combat Infantryman Badge.
He is survived by his mother, Cecilia and daughter, Jaylin Araya of Newark, N.J. He is also survived by his brother, Roy Longsworth of Guaynabo, Puerto Rico.
20th Special Forces Group (Airborne)
Assignment: 1st Battalion
ODA: 2236
18 A
Date KIA: 2 August 2009 OEF
Location: Qole Gerdsar, Afghanistan
Action: Hostile - IED
Capt. Ronald G. Luce died while conducting combat operations in the Qole Gerdsar, Afghanistan, Aug. 2, 2009, while serving as the Special Forces Team Commander with Charlie Company, 2nd Battalion, 20th Special Forces Group (Airborne), headquartered in Jackson, Miss.
Luce, 27, was killed when a command wire improvised explosive device struck his vehicle while deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
Luce, born in Julian, Calif., enrolled in ROTC at Valley Forge Military Academy and became a commissioned officer in 2002. In 2005 he attended the Special Forces Qualification Course, graduating May 2008 as an 18A and was assigned to 2nd Bn., 7th SFG (A) as a liaison officer. He was reassigned to Co. C, 2nd Bn., 20th SFG (A) as a detachment commander.
Luce's military and civilian educations include a Bachelor's of Science Degree in Biology from Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn. He also attended the Infantry Officer's Basic Course, Infantry Captain's Career Course, Ranger School, the Special Forces Qualification Course and Airborne School.
Awards: Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Afghan Campaign Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal and the Army Service Ribbon. Luce also earned the Combat Infantry and Parachutist Badges as well as Special Forces and Ranger tabs.
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