7th Special Forces Group (Airborne)
Assignment: 3rd Battalion
ODA:
18 C
Date KIA: 29 September 2008 OEF
Location: Yakhchal, Afghanistan
Action: Hostile
Sgt. 1st Class Gary J. Vasquez, 33, was killed Sept. 29 while conducting a combat reconnaissance patrol in the vicinity of Yakhchal, Helmand Province, Afghanistan, in support of combat operations while serving with Company B, 1st Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne).
He deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in May 2008 as a member of the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force - Afghanistan. This was his third deployment in support of the Global War on Terror and third deployment to Afghanistan. He was a Special Forces Operational DetachmentAlpha senior engineer sergeant.
Vasquez, a native of Round Lake, Ill., volunteered for military service and entered the Army in Jan. 2000 as a cavalry scout. After basic and advanced individual training at Fort Knox, Ky., he was assigned to Troop. A, 1st Bn., 17th Cavalry Regiment (Airborne) at Fort Bragg, N.C. He began the Special Forces Qualification Course 2002 and he earned the coveted "Green Beret" in 2004 and was assigned to 1st Bn., 7th SFG(A) at Fort Bragg, N.C., as a Special Forces engineer sergeant.
Vasquez's military education includes the Advanced Noncommissioned Officer Course, Basic Noncommissioned Officer Course, Air Movement Course, Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape Course, Basic Airborne Course, Warrior Leaders Course, Ranger Course and Special Forces Qualification Course.
Awards: three Bronze Star Medals, Purple Heart Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, two Army Commendation Medals, two Army Achievement Medals, two Army Good Conduct Medals, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge, Ranger Tab and the Special Forces Tab.
Vasquez is survived by his wife, Sarah, of Raeford, N.C., mother, Margaret Du Hasek, and brother, Barry Du Hasek, both of Highland, Ill.
7th Special Forces Group (Airborne)
Assignment: Company B, 3rd Battalion
ODA:
18 B
Date KIA: 13 November 2013
Location: Panjwai Province, Afghanistan
Action: Hostile - IED
Staff Sgt. Richard Lee Vazquez, 28, of Seguin, Texas, died Nov. 13, 2013, of wounds received from an improvised explosive device blast in Panjwai province, Afghanistan.
He was assigned to Company B, 3rd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne), and was deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom - Afghanistan. This was Vazquez' fifth deployment during his military career.
Vazquez joined the Army in August 2004, as an infantryman. He attended initial Infantry training at Ft. Benning, Ga., and was assigned to the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Ft. Campbell, Ky., from July 2005 to Sep. 2009.
In Sept. 2009, Vazquez volunteered for the Special Forces Assessment and Selection. He graduated from the Special Forces Qualification Course in December 2010, and was assigned to the 3rd Bn., 7th SFG (A) as a weapons sergeant.
His military education includes U.S. Army Basic Airborne Course, U.S. Army Air Assault, Combat Lifesaver Course, Warrior Leader Course, the Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape Course, the Special Forces Qualification Course, Senior Mountaineer Course, Master Mountaineer Course, and SOF Sensitive Site Exploitation - Operator Advanced Course.
Vazquez' awards and decorations include the Purple Heart, the Army Commendation Medal (3rd award), the Army Achievement Medal (2nd award), the Meritorious Unit Citation, the Army Good Conduct Medal (2nd award), the National Defense Service Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal with one Campaign Star, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon with Numeral 2, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon (2nd award), the NATO Medal, the Master Driver Badge, the Air Assault Badge, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Parachutist Badge, and the Special Forces Tab.
He is survived by his parents, brother and sister.
7th Special Forces Group (Airborne)
Assignment: Company B, 3rd Battalion
ODA:
18 C
Date KIA: 17 November 2013
Location: Kandahar Province, Afghanistan
Action: Hostile - IED
Staff Sgt. Alex Anthony Viola, 29, of Keller, Texas, died Nov. 17, 2013, of wounds received from an improvised explosive device in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan.
He was assigned to Company B, 3rd Battalion, 7th Special ForcesGroup (Airborne), and was deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom Afghanistan. This was Viola's first deployment during his military career.
Viola joined the Army National Guard in June 2009 as an engineer sergeant and was assigned to 1st Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne), from June 2009 to April 2010. He began his Special Forces training in April 2010 at Ft. Bragg, N.C. He graduated from Special Forces Qualification Course in June 2011, and was assigned to 1st Bn., 19th SFG (A), Camp Williams, Utah.
In March 2013 Viola was assigned to 3rd Bn., 7th SFG (A), Eglin Air force Base, Fla. He was deployed to Afghanistan with that unit when he was killed.
His military education includes U.S. Army Basic Airborne Course, Combat Lifesaver Course, the Warrior Leader Course, Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape Course, the Special Forces Qualification Course, the Advanced Leader Course and the Combat Diver Qualification Course.
Viola's awards and decorations include the Army Achievement Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Noncommissioned Officer Development Ribbon with Numeral 2, the Army Service Ribbon, the NATO Medal, the Parachutist Badge, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Special Operations Dive Badge, andthe Special Forces Tab.
He is survived by his parents and sister.
10th Special Forces Group (Airborne)
Assignment: Company A, 1st Battalion
ODA: 0114
180A
Date KIA: 29 July 2009 OEF
Location: Kabul Province, Afghanistan
Action: Hostile
Chief Warrant Officer 2 Douglas M. Vose III, died from wounds received while conducting combat operations in the Kabul Province of Afghanistan July 29, 2009, while serving as the Special Forces Assistant Detachment Commander with Operational Detachment Alpha - 0114, Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne), in Stuttgart, Germany.
Vose, 38, was killed by intense direct small arms fire while deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom as a member of the International Security Assistance Forces (ISAF) - Afghanistan.
Vose, born in Roseburg, Ore., enlisted in April 1989 as a 19D, Transportation Soldier. He later attended the Special Forces Qualification Course, graduating in 1999 as an 18E, Communications NCO and was assigned to 3rd Bn., 10th SFG (A). He was reassigned to 1st Bn. in March 2002 and in 2006, he completed the Warrant Officer Basic Course, returning to 1st Bn. in Germany.
Vose's military education includes the Warrior Leader Course, Basic Non-Commissioned Officer Course, Advanced Non-Commissioned Officer Course, Special Forces Communications Sergeant Course, Special Forces Operations and Intelligence Course, Warrant Officer Basic Course, Special Forces Warrant Officer Basic Course, Basic Airborne Course, Military Free Fall Parachutist Course, and Military Free Fall Jumpmaster Parachutist Course.
Awards: Bronze Star Medal with Valor device and two oak leaf clusters in lieu of third award, the Purple Heart, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, and the Humanitarian Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, South West Asia Service Medal, Kosovo Campaign Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, Non-Commissioned Officers Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Ribbon, NATO Medal, Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia), and the Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait).
NOTE: Vose also earned the Airborne Badge, Combat Infantryman's Badge, Parachutist Badge, Military Free Fall Jumpmaster Badge, and the Special Forces Tab.
Vose is survived by his wife Nicole and sons, Aidan and Connor, who reside in Stuttgart, Germany. He is also survived by his daughters, Sharon and Noel, who reside in Germany; as well as his mother Paulette, sister Kellie and brother Jason of Oceanside, Calif.
5th Special Forces Group (Airborne)
Assignment: Company C, 1st Battalion
ODA: 535
18 B
Date KIA: 5 August 2005
Location: Rabi'ah, Iraq
Action: Hostile
Sgt. 1st Class Brett E. Walden was killed in action on August 5, 2005 near Rabi'ah, Iraq, while serving with ODA 535, C Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne).
Walden, 40, was a Special Forces weapons sergeant assigned to ODA 535, C Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Campbell, Ky. Walden, of Fort Walton Beach, Fla. enlisted as an infantryman in February 1987.
He served as an infantryman in Hawaii from 1987 to 1992. He then served with 2nd Brigade, 327th Infantry Regiment at Fort Campbell, Ky. until 1997. After a year with 1st Brigade, 505th Infantry Regiment, Fort Bragg, N.C., Walden attended the Special Forces Qualification Course, graduating in October 2000.
He arrived at Fort Campbell November 20, 2000 and was assigned as a weapons sergeant with C Co, 1/5th SFG (A). While serving with C Co, 1/5th SFG (A), he spent one tour of duty in Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and had recently begun his fourth tour of duty in Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF).
Walden's schools include the Basic Airborne Course, the Air Assault Course, the Ranger Course, the Primary Leadership Development Course, the Basic Noncommissioned Officer's Course, the Combat Lifesaver Course, Special Forces Qualification Course, the Russian Language Course, the Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape Course, the Military Free Fall Course and the Advanced Noncommissioned Officer's Course.
Awards: Bronze Star Medal, the Army Commendation Medal with 1 oak leaf cluster, the Army Achievement Medal with 3 oak leaf clusters, the Army Good Conduct Medal with 5 bronze loops, the National Defense Service Medal with bronze service star, the Armed Forces Service Medal, the Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon (3), the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Expert Infantryman Badge, the Parachutist Badge, the Military Freefall Badge, the Air Assault Badge, the Ranger Tab and the Special Forces Tab. His posthumous awards include the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, and the Meritorious Service Medal.
He is survived by his wife, Autumn and daughter, Alexandria both of Dover, Pa.
3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne)
Assignment: Company C, 1st Battalion
ODA:
18 D
Date KIA: 29 July 2010 OEF
Location: Kabul Province, Afghanistan
Action: Hostile - IED
Staff Sgt. Kyle R. Warren, 28, died of wounds sustained from an IED blast during a combat reconnaissance patrol. He was a Special Forces Operational Detachment-Alpha team medical sergeant assigned to Company C, 1st Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne).
He deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in July 2010 as a member of the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force - Afghanistan. This was his second deployment.
Warren, a native of Huntington Beach, Calif., volunteered for military service and entered the Army in October 2004 as a Special Forces trainee.
After basic and advanced individual training at Fort Benning, Ga., he was assigned to the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School at Fort Bragg, N.C., in May 2005 for Special Forces training. His medical training was with John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School at the Joint Special Operation Medical Training Center. He earned the coveted "Green Beret" in 2007 and was assigned to 1st Battalion, 3rd SFG (A) at Fort Bragg, as a Special Forces medical sergeant.
Warren's military education includes the Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape Course; Basic Airborne Course; Basic Noncommissioned Officer Course; Warrior Leaders Course; Special Forces Qualification Course; Special Forces Advanced Urban Combat Course and Military Freefall Course.
Awards: Bronze Star Medal, Army Achievement Medal; Good Conduct Medal; National Defense Service Medal; Afghanistan Campaign Medal; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Parachutist Badge, Military Freefall Parachutist badge, Combat Infantry Badge and the Special Forces Tab.
He was posthumously awarded a second Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, The NATO Medal, and Meritorious Service Medal.
Warren is survived by his wife Sandra Warren of Hope Mills, N.C.; mother Lynn Warren of Bedford, N.H. and father Del Warren of Long Beach, Calif.
7th Special Forces Group (Airborne)
Assignment: 1st Battalion
ODA:
18 C
Date KIA: 15 May 2007 OEF
Location: Qalat, Afghanistan
Action: Hostile - Small Arms
Staff Sgt. Joshua R. Whitaker, 23, was a Special Forces engineer sergeant assigned to 1st Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne).
He died May 15, 2007 during a firefight near Qalat, Afghanistan. Whitaker deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in March 2007.
A native of Long Beach, Calif., Whitaker enlisted in the Army September 24, 2003 as a Special Forces candidate. After completing basic combat training, advanced individual training and airborne school at Fort Benning, Ga., he was assigned to Fort Bragg, N.C., for Special Forces training. In August 2006, upon completion of the Special Forces Qualification Course, he earned the coveted Green Beret and was assigned to 7th SFG (A).
Whitaker's military education also includes the Special Forces Advanced Urban Combat Course.
Awards: Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Parachutist Badge, and the Special Forces Tab.
He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal for valor, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, NATO Medal, and Combat Infantryman Badge.
He is survived by his mother, Catherine Whitaker of Long Beach, Calif., his uncle, Robb Whitaker of Signal Hill, Calif. and his father, Frank Dougherty of El Monte, Calif. His aunt, Debra Whitaker and his cousins Rachel and Laura Whitaker, all from Signal Hill, Calif., also survive him.
5th Special Forces Group (Airborne)
Assignment: Company B, 3rd Battalion
ODA:
18 D
Date KIA: 19 January 2008
Location: Mosul, Iraq
Action: Hostile - IED
Staff Sgt. Justin R. Whiting, 27, was killed in action on Jan. 19 when his vehicle was struck by an IED while conducting combat operations 16 kilometers south of Mosul, Iraq. He was a Special Forces medical sergeant assigned to Company B, 3rd Battalion, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne).
He has had two previous combat tours to Iraq in 2004 and 2005 with 3rd Bn., 5th SFG(A), and was on his third combat tour in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and the Global War on Terrorism.
Whiting was born in Texas and his military records list his home of record as Tennessee. He volunteered for military service and enlisted in the Army on Dec. 15, 1999. He would go on to earn the coveted "Green Beret" in 2000.
Whiting's military education includes the Special Operations Target Interdiction Course, the Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape Course, Basic Noncommissioned Officer's Course, Warrior Leaders Course, Basic Airborne Course, and Special Forces Qualification Course.
Awards: Bronze Star Medal, two Army Commendation Medals, two Army Achievement Medals, two Army Good Conduct Medals, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global on War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, two Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbons, Army Service Ribbon, Combat Medical Badge, Parachutist Badge, and Special Forces Tab.
Whiting is survived by his mother, Estelline, of Colorado Springs, Colo., father, Randall, of Hancock, N.Y., sister, Amanda, of DuPont, Wash., and brother, Nathan, of Dover, Tenn.
1st Special Forces Group (Airborne)
Assignment: 2nd Battalion
ODA:
18 D
Date KIA: 26 June 2007 OIF
Location: Diwaniyah, Iraq
Action: Hostile
Sgt. 1st Class Nathan L. Winder, 32, was a Special Forces medic assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) in Fort Lewis, Wash.
Winder died June 26, 2007, from wounds sustained while conducting combat operations outside of Diwaniyah, Iraq. He was killed by small arms fire while assisting another U.S. Army element as a member of a U.S. Special Forces Quick Reaction Force.
He was deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom as a member of the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force - Arabian Peninsula.
Born in Seoul, South Korea, SFC Winder was raised in Utah. After entering military service in 1993, Winder was assigned as an Infantryman to 1st Battalion, 41st Infantry Regiment at Fort Riley, Kan. He later served as a Bradley Fighting Vehicle section leader with 1st Bn., 9th Infantry Regiment at Camp Hovey, Korea, and as a dismounted squad leader with 1st Bn., 5th Cavalry Regiment at Fort Hood, Texas.
In 2003, he was selected to attend the Special Forces Qualification Course at Fort Bragg, N.C., to become a Special Forces medic. He earned the coveted Green Beret in 2006 and was assigned to the 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Lewis.
Winder's military education also includes the Warrior Leader Course, the Basic Noncommissioned Officer Course, and the Basic Airborne Course.
Awards: Army Commendation Medal, 5 Army Achievement Medals, 4 Good Conduct Medals, 2 National Defense Service Medals, Korean Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Expert Infantryman Badge, Parachutist Badge, Driver/Mechanics Badge and the Special Forces Tab.
He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal, and the Combat Infantryman Badge.
Winder is survived by his wife, Mechelle, of South Africa, and his son, Logan, of Herkimer, N.Y. He is also survived by his parents, Tom and Terri Winder of Blanding, Utah.
1st Special Forces Group (Airborne)
Assignment: 3rd Battalion
ODA:
18 D
Date KIA: 15 January 2012 OEF
Location: Konduz Province, Afghanistan
Action: Hostile
Sgt. 1st Class Benjamin B. Wise, 34, of El Dorado, Ark., died Jan. 15, 2012 at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Germany of injuries sustained when his unit was engaged by enemy small-arms fire in Konduz Province, Afghanistan.
Wise was assigned to Company A, 3rd Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne), Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., and was deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. This was Wise's fourth deployment in support of Overseas Contingency Operations.
Wise graduated from West Side Christian High School in 1995 and entered the United States Army in November 2000 as an infantryman.
Upon completion of Basic Combat Training, Advanced Individual Training and the Basic Airborne Course at Fort Benning, Ga., in 2001, he was assigned to the 520th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division at Joint Base Lewis- McChord where he deployed to Iraq as a member of the Battalion Scout Platoon from 2003-2004. In 2005, Wise volunteered for the Special Forces Assessment and Selection Course and was selected to continue training as medical sergeant in the Special Forces Qualification Course.
After graduating from the Special Forces Qualification Course in 2008, Wise was assigned to 3rd Bn, 1st SFG (A). During his time with the unit, he deployed once to Iraq and twice to Afghanistan.
Wise's military education includes the Warrior Leader's Course, the Advanced Leader's Course, the Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE) Course, the Recon and Surveillance Leadership Course and the Basic Airborne Course.
Awards: Bronze Star Medal, the NATO Medal, the Army Commendation Medal (3rd Award), the Army Good Conduct Medal (3rd award), the National Defense Service Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal with three campaign stars, the Afghan Campaign Medal with two campaign stars, the Global War on Terror Service Medal, the Overseas Service Ribbon (2nd award), the Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon with Numeral 2, the Army Service Ribbon, the Special Forces Tab, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Expert Infantryman Badge and the Parachutist Badge.
He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart and Meritorious Service Medal
He is survived by his wife, Traci; his sons Luke and Ryan; and his daughter Kailen
20th Special Forces Group (Airborne)
Assignment: Company A, 2nd Battalion
ODA: 2092
18 D
Date KIA: 9 January 2004 OEF
Location: Kabul, Afghanistan
Action: Accident - Convoy
Sgt. Roy A. Wood, 47, a resident of Alva, Fla., was a member of 20th Special Forces Group (Airborne). He served as the medical sergeant on Operational Detachment-A 2092, Company C, 3rd Battalion. In civilian life, he worked as an emergency physician at Lee Memorial Hospital in Fort Myers, Fla.
A 24-year Army Reservist and National Guardsman, he received a commission as a second lieutenant in 1979 and was assigned to the Army Reserve's 421st Quartermaster Company in Fort Valley, Ga.
In January 1982, Wood joined the U.S. Army Special Forces. His first SF assignment was to the Army Reserve's 11th Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Meade, Md., where he served in the 3rd Battalion's Company A as the detachment executive officer for Operational Detachment-A 1175. In May 1983, Wood became detachment commander for ODA 1175. Over the next 12 years he served in a variety of positions at the 11th SFG (A), to include, company logistics officer, operations officer and support company commander.
In 1996, after 2 years on inactive Individual Ready Reserve status, he was assigned as an individual mobilization augmentee to the U.S. Special Operations Command at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., where he worked as an area analyst. In 2000, he served with the Army Reserve's 73rd Field Hospital in St. Petersburg, Fla., before switching to the National Guard in December 2001 and was assigned to 3rd Bn., 20th SFG. There, he served for a year as the battalion surgeon. In December 2002, Maj. Wood resigned his commission to become a medical sergeant on ODA 2092.
Wood's key military education includes the U.S. Army Ranger Course, Infantry Officer Advanced Course, Special Forces Detachment Officer qualification course, Advanced Airborne Course, and Quartermaster Officer Basic Course.
His civilian education includes a bachelor's degree in biology from Mercer University in Macon, Ga., and a doctor of medicine degree from the University of Miami School of Medicine in Miami, Fla. He also completed a medical internship at Miami's Jackson Memorial Hospital, a medical residency at Atlanta's Grady Memorial Hospital and was board certified as an emergency medicine physician by the American Board of Emergency Physicians.
Awards: Bronze Star, Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Army Reserve Achievement Medal with silver hourglass device, the National Defense Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Basic Parachutist Badge, the Parachute Rigger Badge, the Ranger Tab and the Special Forces Tab.
Wood is survived by his wife and two children.
20th Special Forces Group (Airborne)
Assignment: Company A, 2nd Battalion
ODA:
18 D
Date KIA: 16 August 2009 OEF
Location: Ghazni Province, Afghanistan
Action: Hostile
Sgt. 1st Class William B. Woods Jr., 31, died Aug. 16, 2009, in Landstuhl, Germany from wounds he received Aug. 14, 2009, while conducting a mounted patrol in the Ghazni Province, Afghanistan, in support of combat operations while serving with 2nd Battalion, 20th 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. He was a Special Forces senior medical sergeant.
Woods was a native of Hermann, Mo., and enlisted into the military in 1996 as a rifleman. After his initial Marine Corps enlistment, he later enlisted into the U.S. Army.
He attended the Special Forces Qualification Course in 2003 and earned the coveted "Green Beret." He was then assigned to 2nd Bn., 20th SFG (A).
Wood's military education includes the Basic Infantryman's Course, Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape Course, Basic Airborne Course, Linear Infighting Neural-Override Engagement Instructor Course, Ranger Course, and Special Forces Qualification Course.
Awards: Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, Army and Marine Corps Good Conduct Medals, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon, Navy Arctic Service Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, Senior Parachutist Badge, Ranger Tab and the Special Forces Tab.
Woods is survived by his wife, Elizabeth, and daughters, Lilian and Ella, of Chesapeake, Va.; mother Pamela, and father William, of Pacific, Mo.
1st Special Forces Group (Airborne)
Assignment: 2nd Battalion
ODA:
18 E
Date KIA: 3 January 2005 OIF
Location: Asadabad, Afghanistan
Action: Hostile - IED
Sgt. Jeremy R. Wright, 31, was a Special Forces communications sergeant assigned to 2nd Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Lewis, Wash.
He was killed in action while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom on Jan. 3, 2005, when the enemy IED exploded near his Ground Mobility Vehicle during operations in the vicinity of Asadabad, Afghanistan. Wright deployed to Afghanistan in November 2004 in support of the Global War on Terrorism.
A native of Shelbyville, Ind., Wright enlisted in the Army in November 2001 under the service's then brand-new Special Forces Recruiting Initiative, a program that enables civilian recruits to volunteer to attend the Special Forces Assessment and Selection Course shortly after their completion of Initial Entry Training as infantrymen. Previously, only currently serving Soldiers could volunteer to attend SFAS.
After entering the Army in April 2002, he completed infantry and airborne training at Fort Benning, Ga., and in August 2002 was assigned to the 1st Special Warfare Training Group (Airborne) at Fort Bragg, N.C. Wright attended SFAS in September 2002 and was selected to continue his training as a communications sergeant in the Special Forces Qualification Course. Wright began the Thai Language Course in November 2003 and completed the SFQC in July 2004 after completing the Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape Course at Fort Bragg. He was assigned to the 1st SFG in August 2004.
Wright was a 1996 graduate of Wabash College in Crawfordsville, Ind., and was a two-time All-American cross-country runner there. He was also a three-time member of the U.S. Mountain Running Team and was the Indiana state high school champion in the 3,200-meter run.
Awards: Purple Heart, 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 Combat Infantryman Badge and the Special Forces Tab.
Wright is survived by his father, Dale Wright, of Flat Rock, Ind., and his mother, Jacquelyn Nickel, of Shelbyville, Ind.
3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne)
Assignment: 3rd Battalion
ODA:
18 Z
Date KIA: 19 November 2005
Location: Shkin, Afghanistan
Action: Hostile
Master Sergeant Anthony Ray Charles Yost, 39, a Special Forces Operational Detachment - Alpha Team sergeant assigned to 3rd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Bragg, N.C., died Nov. 19, 2005, as a result of an explosion which occurred inside a building in Mosul. Yost and other Soldiers were searching a building for insurgents. During their search, an explosion occurred and the building collapsed. Yost was killed by the blast.
Yost was born in Oklahoma and reared in Flint, Mich. He enlisted in the Army in 1987.
His assignments included tours in South Korea, Fort Lewis, Wash., and Fort Bliss, Tex. prior his training and service as a special forces Soldier.
Yost graduated the Special Forces Qualification Course in 1993 and was assigned that year to 2nd Bn., 10th SFG at Fort Carson, Co., as an SF weapons sergeant. After serving eight years in 10th SFG, Yost was assigned in 2001 to the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School at Fort Bragg, N.C., where he served as a senior SF weapons instructor. In March 2005, Yost was assigned to 3rd Bn., 3rd SFG and served there as an Operational Detachment - Alpha team sergeant until his death.
Awards: Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medals (6), Army Achievement Medals (6), the Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Kosovo Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Korean Defense Service Medal, the Armed Forces Service Medal, the NCO Professional Development Ribbon, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the NATO Medal, the Senior Parachutist Badge, the Military Freefall Master Parachutist Badge, the Driver and Mechanic Badges and the Special Forces Tab. His posthumous awards include the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Purple Heart and the Combat Infantryman Badge.
He is survived by his wife, Joann, and his children Donovan, Cheyenne, Anthony.
7th Special Forces Group (Airborne)
Assignment: Company B, 1st Battalion
ODA:
18 Z
Date KIA: 13 July 2008
Location: Kajaki Sofla, Afghanistan
Action: Hostile
MSG. Young deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in May 2008 as a member of the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force - Afghanistan. This was his fourth deployment in support of the Global War on Terror and third deployment to Afghanistan. He was a Special Forces Operational Detachment-Alpha team sergeant.
A native of Jonesboro, Ga., Young volunteered for military service and entered the Army in January 1991 as an infantryman. After basic and advanced individual training at Fort Benning, Ga., he was assigned to Co. A, 3rd Bn., 27th Infantry Regiment at Fort Ord, Calif. In 1993 he became a squad leader when he moved to 3rd Bn., 502nd Inf. Regiment. at Fort Campbell, Ky.
In 1995 he moved to Germany and was assigned to Co. B, 1st Bn., 4th Inf. Regiment. Young began the Special Forces Qualification Course and he earned the coveted "Green Beret" in 1999 and was assigned to 2nd Bn., 3rd SFG(A) at Fort Bragg, N.C., as a Special Forces Operational Detachment Alpha communications sergeant. He left 3rd SFG(A) in 2004 to become a team sergeant at the United States Army Tactical Review Board, Fort Bragg, N.C. He was assigned to his current position at 1st Bn., 7th SFG(A) in October 2007.
Youngs' military education includes the Advanced Noncommissioned Officer Course, Basic Noncommissioned Officer Course, Jumpmaster Course, Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape Course, Basic Airborne Course, Air Assault Course, Warrior Leaders Course, and Special Forces Qualification Course.
MSG. Young is survived by his wife, Robyn, of Fayetteville, N.C., and his mother, Jane Young, of Jonesboro, Ga.
Awards: 3 Bronze Star Medals, Purple Heart Medal, two Meritorious Service Medals, Joint Service Commendation Medal, three Army Commendation Medals, two Army Achievement Medals, four Army Good Conduct Medals, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO Medial, Combat Infantryman Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge and the Special Forces Tab.
Young is survived by his wife, Robyn, of Fayetteville, N.C.; and his mother, Jane Young, of Jonesboro, Ga.
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