5th Special Forces Group (Airborne)
Assignment: Company C, 2nd Battalion
ODA:
18
Date KIA: 11 April 2004
Location: Baghdad, Iraq
Action: Hostile - Small Arms
Sgt. Maj. Michael B. Stack, 48, was assigned as company sergeant major to Company C, 2nd Battalion, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Campbell, Ky.
He was killed in Iraq on April 11, 2004 when his convoy was ambushed near Baghdad.
Stack was a native of Lake City, S.C. and enlisted in the Army in 1977. He served in a number of Special Forces assignments with the 3rd, 5th and 10th Special Forces Groups, as well as the 1st Special Warfare Training Group (Airborne) at Fort Bragg, N.C.
Awards: Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, the Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Southwest Asia Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Humanitarian Service Medal, the Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, the Army Service Ribbon, the Expert Infantryman Badge, the Master Parachutist Badge and the Special Forces Tab.
Stack is survived by his wife, Victoria Suzanne; his daughters, Jillian, Melissa and Virginia; and his sons, David, William and Bryan.
19th Special Forces Group (Airborne)
Assignment: Company B, 3rd Battalion
ODA:
18 E
Date KIA: 15 April 2002 OEF
Location: Kandahar, Afghanistan
Action: Hostile
Sgt. 1st Class Daniel Aaron Romero was a Special Forces Communications Chief for B Company, 5/19th Special Forces Group (A), Colorado Army National Guard. He provided specialized resource management, effective communication, operations, tactics, communication operations, psychological operations, unconventional warfare planning, intelligence collection and processing to ensure his unit's combat readiness.
Born in February of 1972, Sgt. 1st Class Romero began his distinguished military career with an enlistment in the Colorado Army National Guard December 18, 1991. He was a traditional guard member and was self-employed. He attended basic training at Ft. Jackson, South Carolina in July of 1992, Advanced Individual Training at Ft. Gordon, Georgia in September of 1992, and went through airborne school at Ft. Benning, Georgia in January of 1993.
He was part of approximately 100 members of the B/5-19th Special Forces Group (A) that was called to active duty in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Headquartered in Pueblo, Romero's unit was activated December 5, 2001and placed on active duty orders for 12 months, not to exceed 24 months.
Romero, 30, was killed in action April 15th, 2002 near Qandahar, Afghanistan during an ordinance disposal operation involving 107mm rockets. The explosion killed three other U.S. soldiers and wounded another.
Awards: Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, National Defense Service Medal (2nd award), Combat Infantry Badge, Colorado Active Service Medal, Colorado Foreign Deployment Medal, and Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Non-Commissioned Officers Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, and the Colorado Emergency Service Ribbon with device, Parachutist Badge and Special Forces tab.
Romero is buried at Ft. Logan National Cemetery in Denver, Colorado.
5th Special Forces Group (Airborne)
Assignment: Company B, 3rd Battalion
ODA:
18 C
Date KIA: 17 April 2008 OIF
Location: Sama Village, Iraq
Action: Hostile - IED
Staff Sgt. Jason L. Brown, 29, was killed in action in the early morning hours on April 17 when he was struck by small-arms fire while conducting combat operations in Sama Village, Iraq. He was a Special Forces engineer sergeant assigned to Company B, 3rd Battalion, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne).
He was on his second combat tour in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and the War on Terror with 3rd Bn., 5th SFG(A).
Brown was born in Texas and his military records list his home of record as Magnolia, Texas. He volunteered for military service and enlisted in the Army on March 25, 2003 as a Special Forces candidate. He would go on to earn the coveted "Green Beret" in 2004.
His military education includes the Special Forces Advanced Urban Combat Course, Jumpmaster Course, Free Fall Parachutist Course, Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape Course, Basic Noncommissioned Officer's Course, Warrior Leaders Course, Basic Airborne Course, and Special Forces Qualification Course and Advanced Explosive Techniques Course.
Awards: Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global on War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Medal, Combat Infantryman's Badge, Military Free Fall Parachutist Badge, Master Parachutist Badge and Special Forces Tab.
Brown is survived by his daughter, Alyssa Gomez, of Cypress, Texas; mother, Rosemary, and father, James, of Cartwright, Okla.
3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne)
Assignment: Company C, 2nd Battalion
ODA:
18 Z
Date KIA: 23 April 2011 OEF
Location: Kandahar, Afghanistan
Action: Hostile - IED
Master Sgt. Benjamin F. Bitner was born July 4, 1973, in Hagerstown, Md. and was a 1991 graduate of Greencastle Antrim High School in Greencastle, Pa.
Bitner enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1991 and attended Special Forces Assessment and Selection in 1999. Later that year he graduated from the Special Forces Qualification Course as an engineer sergeant.
He joined Company C, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne), headquartered at Fort Bragg, N.C., in 2003.
He deployed in support of various operations across the globe, including but not limited to: Operation Flintlock, Africa, 2001; Operation Nectar Bend, Africa, 2004; Task Force Falcon in support of operations in Kosovo, 2001 - 2002; Operation Desert Spring, Kuwait, 2002; Operation Iraqi Freedom and four deployments to Afghanistan (Operation Enduring Freedom) with Company C.
His military education includes: Track Vehicle Repairers Course, Single Channel Ground Airborne Radio Systems Operator Course, Basic Infantry Course, Basic Airborne Course, Long Range Surveillance Leader's Course, Warriors Leader Course, Special Forces Engineer Sergeant's Course, Basic Non-commissioned Officer's Course, Advanced Non-commissioned Officer's Course, Survival Evasion Resistance and Escape Course, Special Forces Advanced Urban Combat Course, Special Forces Sniper Course, Special Forces Advanced Reconnaissance Target Analysis and Exploitation Technique's Course, Special Forces Master Breacher's Course, Special Forces Intelligence Sergeant's Course, Military Free-Fall Course, both Summer and Winter Basic Mountain Warfare Courses and the United States Army Special Operations Command Mountaineering Master Trainer's Course.
Awards: Bronze Star Medal (6); Purple Heart; Meritorious Service Medal (2); Army Commendation Medal (3) with "V" device; Army Achievement Medal (3); Army Good Conduct Medal (4); Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal (3); National Defense Service Medal (2); Kosovo Campaign Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal; Afghanistan Campaign Medal with three campaign stars; Iraq Campaign Medal with one campaign star; Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal; Global War on Terror Service Medal; Non-commissioned Officers Professional Development Ribbon (3); Army Service Ribbon; NATO Medal (4); Special Forces Tab; Combat Infantryman's Badge; Parachutists Badge; Military Free-Fall Badge.
Bitner is survived by wife April, sons Gunnar and Rogue; and parents Roger and Beverly Bitner of Greencastle, Pa.
Assignment: USASOC
ODA: 18 D
Date KIA: 25 April 2006 OIF
Location: Iraq
Action: Hostile
Sgt. 1st Class Richard J. Herrema was killed in combat during operations April 25, 2006, in Iraq against known enemies of the United States of America.
He was born March 28, 1979, in Grand Rapids, Mich., and graduated from Unity Christian High School in Hudsonville, Mich.
He first entered the U. S. Army as an infantryman on Jan. 11, 1999. After completion of initial Basic Entry Training, he was assigned to B Company, 3rd Battalion, 327th Infantry Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky., and then as a Squad Leader in Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 327th Infantry Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell. He graduated from the Special Forces Qualification Course in June 2003 as an 18D SF Medical Sergeant and was assigned as an instructor in G Company, 1st Battalion, 1st Special Warfare Training Group (Airborne) at Fort Bragg, N.C. His last assignment was as a team member assigned to the U. S. Army Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, N.C.
In addition to the Special Forces Qualification Course, he completed numerous military courses including the Air Assault Course, the Combat Lifesaver Course, the Ranger Course, the Basic Airborne Course, the Special Operations Medical Sergeant Course, the Basic Noncommissioned Officer Course, the Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape Course, and the Military Freefall Course.
Awards: Two Army Commendation Medals, five Army Achievement Medals, two Army Good Conduct Medals, the National Defense Service Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War On Terrorism Service Medal, the Humanitarian Service Medal, the Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon with numeral two, and the Army Service Ribbon. During his career he had also earned, the Military Freefall Parachutist Badge, the Parachutist Badge, the Air Assault Badge and both the Special Forces and Ranger Tabs.
Herrema was posthumously promoted to Sgt. 1st Class. He was also posthumously awarded a Bronze Star Medal for valor, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Purple Heart, and the Combat Infantryman Badge.
He is survived by his parents, Richard and Mary Herrema, and his sisters, Katie Lynn and Janie Lynn Herrema.
7th Special Forces Group (Airborne)
Assignment: Company B, 2nd Battalion
ODA:
MOS: 18E
Date KIA: 25 April 2012 OEF
Location: Kandahar, Afghanistan
Action:
Staff Sgt. Andrew Trevor Britton-Mihalo, 26, of San Jose, Costa Rica, died April 25, 2012, in Kandahar, Afghanistan. He was assigned to Company B, 2nd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne), Eglin Air Force
Base, Fla., and was deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Andrew Trevor Britton-Mihalo was born on June 24, 1986, in San Jose, Costa Rica. He graduated from Royal High Simi High School in Valley, Calif., and enlisted in the U.S. Army in 2005 as an 18X.
Britton-Mihalo completed the Special Forces Qualification Course and earned the coveted "Green Beret" in 2008 as a Special Forces communications sergeant. Britton-Mihalo’s military education includes the Warrior Leader’s Course, the Advanced Leader’s Course, Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape Course, Basic Airborne Course, the Special Forces Qualification Course and the Intelligence course.
Britton-Mihalo's awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, two Army Good Conduct Medals, Joint Service Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon with numeral 2 device, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, Special Forces Tab, Parachutist Badge, and Expert Marksmanship Badge.
Britton-Mihalo is survived by his wife Sgt. Jesse Britton.
10th 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.
3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne)
Assignment: Company B, 4th Battalion
ODA:
MOS: 18E
Date KIA: 26 April 2012 OEF
Location: Ghazni Province, Afghanistan
Action: Hostile - IED
Staff Sgt. Brandon Forrest Eggleston, 29, of Raeford, N.C. died when his mobility platform struck an improvised explosive device during a patrol April 26, 2012 in Ghazni Province, Afghanistan.
He was assigned to Company B, 4th Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Bragg, N.C. and was deployed in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. This was Staff Sgt. Eggleston's third deployment in support of Overseas Contingency Operations.
He attended West Carolina University and graduated in 2005 with a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice.
He enlisted in the U.S. Army in July 2006. Upon completion of basic training and advanced individual training, he attended the Special Forces Assessment and Selection Course. He completed the Special Forces Qualification Course in March 2009 and was assigned to 4th Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Bragg as a SF Communications Sergeant. His military education also includes the U.S. Army Airborne School, Advanced Leaders Course, Warrior Leaders Course, Combatives Course Level 1, Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape Course, the Special Forces Qualification Course and the Special Forces Advanced Urban Combat course.
Eggleston’s awards and decorations include the Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghan Campaign Medal with two campaign stars, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Non-commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon with numeral 2 device, Army Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Parachutist Badge, and the Special Forces tab.
He will be posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Purple Heart, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with a third campaign star and the Combat Infantry Badge. Eggleston is survived by his wife, their two daughters, his mother and his sister.
7th Special Forces Group (Airborne)
Assignment: 1st Battalion
ODA:
18 B
Date KIA: 27 April 2007 OEF
Location: Shindand, Afghanistan
Action: Hostile - Small Arms
Staff Sergeant Michael D. Thomas was born on November 29, 1972 in Athens, Ga. He was a weapons sergeant assigned to 1 st Battalion, 7 th Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Bragg, N.C.
Thomas died April 27, 2007 from wounds sustained while conducting a combat patrol south of Shindand, Shindand District, Herat Province, Afghanistan.
A native of Seffner, Fla., Thomas enlisted in the Army Jan. 22, 1991 as a military police officer. After completing advanced individual training at Fort McClellan, Ala., he was assigned to Camp Casey, Korea. During the next 13 years, he served in positions of increasing responsibility within the Military Police Corps eventually becoming a squad leader. In 2004, Thomas volunteered for Special Forces training and upon completion of the Special Forces Qualification Course in 2006, he was assigned to 7 th SFG (A) as a Special Forces weapons sergeant.
Awards: Thomas’ awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Parachutist Badge, and the Special Forces Tab.
Thomas is survived by his wife Teresa, son Craig, daughter Diana and granddaughter Alexis. He is also survived by his parents Bob and Debbie Kirkpatrick of Thonotosassa, Fla, sister Krista Bridwell and her husband Jaye, sister Cassie Kirkpatrick and Aunt Cheryl.
1st Special Forces Group (Airborne)
Assignment: Company C, 4th BN
ODA:
Date KIA: 27 April 2013 IED
Location: Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Germany, of injuries sustained from an Improvised Explosive Device in Afghanistan
Action: Improvised Explosive Device
Simpson was assigned to Company C, 4th Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne), Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., as a weapons sergeant. He was deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom-Afghanistan. This was Simpson's third deployment to an Overseas Contingency Operation.
Simpson enlisted in the Army in April, 2003, as an Infantryman.
Upon completion of basic training and Advanced Individual Training, Simpson was assigned to Company D, 3rd Infantry Regiment, the Old Guard, as a Rifleman. In 2006, Simpson was assigned to Company C, 2nd Cavalry Regiment and deployed in 2007 as a fire team leader in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Simpson volunteered for the Special Forces Assessment and Selection Course and completed the Special Forces Qualification Course in July 2011.
He was assigned to Company C, 4th BN, 1st SFG (A) as a weapons sergeant. He participated in the multilateral exercise Cobra Gold in Thailand in 2012 and recently deployed in support of OEF-A.
Simpson's military education includes the Special Forces Qualification Course, Warrior Leader Course, Advanced Leader Course, Combat Life Savers Course, Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE) Course, Hazmat Driver Instructor's Course, Joint Armorers Training Course, and the Basic Airborne Course.
His awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Army Achievement Medal with three oak leaf clusters, the Good Conduct Medal with three oak leaf clusters, the National Defense Service Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terror Service Medal, Overseas Service Ribbon, Non-commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon with numeral "2" device, Army Service Ribbon, Special Forces Tab, Combat Infantryman Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, and the Parachutist Badge.
He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart.
He is survived by his wife, two sons and his parents.
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