5th Special Forces Group (Airborne)
Assignment: Company D, 1st Battalion
ODA:
18
Date KIA: 2 January 2008 OEF
Location: Baghdad, Iraq
Action: Non-Hostile
Staff Sgt. Ryan D. Maseth, 24, died as a result of a nonbattle death accident on Jan. 2, in Baghdad, Iraq, while serving with Company D, 1st Battalion, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne).
He deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2007 as a member of the Combined Joint Special Operation Task Force Arabian Peninsula. This was his second deployment to Iraq in support of the Global War on Terror. Maseth, a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, volunteered for military service and enlisted into the Army in June 2001 as an infantryman. In 2007 he earned the coveted “Green Beret.”
Maseth’s military education includes the Basic Noncommissioned Officer Course, Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape Course, Warrior Leaders Course, Combat Life Savers Course, Unit Armor Training Course, Special Forces Qualification Course, Ranger Course, Air Assault Course, and the Basic Airborne Course.
Awards: Two Army Commendation Medals, three Army Achievement Medals, Army Superior Unit Award, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, two Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbons, Army Service Ribbon, Special Forces Tab, Ranger Tab, Combat Infantryman Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, Parachutist Badge, and the Air Assault Badge
Maseth is survived by his mother Cheryl A. Harris, of Cranberry Township, father, Douglas, and brothers', Brandon and Adam, all of Allison Park, Pa.
7th Special Forces Group (Airborne)
Assignment: 1st Battalion
ODA:
18 Z
Date KIA: 2 January 2005
Location: Shindand, Afghanistan
Action: Hostile - Small Arms
Sgt. 1st Class Pedro A. Munoz was born on June 30, 1957, in Quebradillas, Puerto Rico. He was a detachment operations and intelligence sergeant assigned to 1st Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Bragg, N.C.
He died Jan. 2, 2005, after he was fatally wounded while conducting offensive operations in Shindand, Afghanistan. During the combat action, Munoz was struck by enemy small arms fire and died of his wounds during his medical evacuation.
Munoz entered the Army in February 1986 as an automated logistical specialist. He graduated from the Special Forces Qualification Course in 1990 and was assigned to the 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) and soon after deployed in support of operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. In 1994, he deployed to Haiti for 7 months in support of Operation Uphold Democracy. In 1999, he was assigned to the U.S. Army Parachute Team, the Golden Knights. He completed over 300 static line and 4,000 free fall parachute jumps. He returned to the Special Forces community in 2002, serving with the 7th SFG.
During his tenure of military service, Dan participated in contingency operations in Kuwait, Haiti, Africa and throughout Southwest Asia.
Awards: Silver Star, Bronze Star with Valor device, the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Southwest Asia Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Armed Forces Service Medal, the Humanitarian Service Medal, the Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service the Kuwait Liberation Medal, the Combat Infantryman Badge with 2nd Award Star, the Master Parachutist Badge, the Master Military Free Fall Badge and the Special Forces Tab. He was posthumously awarded the Silver Star for conspicuous Gallantry in Action in Afghanistan on Jan. 2, 2005.
Munoz is survived by his wife, Gisela, and his daughter, Dalia.
5th Special Forces Group (Airborne)
Assignment: 2nd Battalion
ODA:
18 E
Date KIA: 3 January 2005
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.
1st Special Forces Group (Airborne)
Assignment: 3rd Battalion
ODA: 194
18 E
Date KIA: 4 January 2002
Location: Khost, Afghanistan
Action: Hostile - Small Arms
Sgt. 1st Class Nathan R. Chapman was a Special Forces Communications Sergeant assigned to 3rd Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne). He was killed in action during Operation Enduring Freedom on Jan. 4, 2002, near the town of Khost in Afghanistan.
Sgt. 1st Class Chapman was born into a military family at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., on April 23, 1970. As with most military children, he called several places “home” during his childhood.
While growing up, he balanced his time between his academic studies, the wrestling team and an active social life. In 1988, he graduated from Centerville High School in Ohio.
Nathan entered the Army in July 1988, completing Basic and Advanced Individual Training as an infantryman at Fort Benning, Ga. After that, he also completed his parachutist and Ranger training there.
Following his initial training at Fort Benning, he was assigned to Company A, 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Fort Lewis, Wash. In December 1989, he participated in his first combat action when he took part in the 2nd Ranger Battalion’s airborne assault into Panama during Operation Just Cause. In January 1991, while assigned to 3rd Battalion, 47th Infantry Regiment, he participated in his second combat action when he deployed to Saudi Arabia as part of Operation Desert Storm.
In September 1991, Sgt. 1st Class Chapman volunteered for Special Forces training. In December 1992, he graduated from the Special Forces Communications Sergeants Course at Fort Bragg, N.C., and went on to complete the Basic Military Language Course for Tagalog in June 1993.
In July 1993, he returned to Fort Lewis, Wash., where he was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne). Here, he served on Operational Detachment A-185 and Operational detachment A-195. In 1995 he deployed to Haiti as part of Operation Uphold Democracy.
In 1998, Sgt. 1st Class Chapman was reassigned to 1st Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne), in Okinawa, Japan. He served there for three years as a member of Operational Detachment A-125 and Operational Detachment A-135.
In June 2001, he returned to 3rd Battalion and became a member of Operational Detachment A-194. In November 2001, Sgt. 1st Class Chapman volunteered for a special mission in Afghanistan, where he participated in Operation Enduring Freedom.
Awards: Bronze Star with “V” device, the Purple Heart, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Army Achievement Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, the Humanitarian Service Medal, the United Nations Medal, the Kuwait Liberation Medal, the Southwest Asia Service Medal with Bronze Service Star, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with arrow head, the Army Good Conduct Medal (3rd Award), the Armed Forces Service Medal, the Joint Meritorious Service Unit Award, the Army Superior Unit Award, the Combat Infantryman Badge second award, the Master Parachutist Badge, the Parachutist Combat Badge with bronze service star, the Special Forces Combat Divers Badge, the Special Forces Tab, the Ranger Tab, and the Royal Thai Army Parachutist Badge.
He is survived by his wife, Renae, his daughter Amanda, his son Brandon and his parents Will and Lynn Chapman.
20th Special Forces Group (Airborne)
Assignment: Company C, 3rd Battalion
ODA: 2092
18 D
Date KIA: 9 January 2004
Location: Afghanistan
Action:
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.
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
7th Special Forces Group (Airborne)
Assignment: Company C, 3rd Battalion
ODA:
18 B
Date KIA: 16 January 2009
Location: Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan
Action: Non-Hostile
Staff Sgt. Joshua R. Townsend, 30, died Jan. 16, from a non-battle death incident at U.S. military Fire Base Ripley, Tarin Kowt district, Uruzgan province, Afghanistan while serving with Company C, 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 second deployment in support of the Global War on Terror and second deployment to Afghanistan. He was a Special Forces Operational Detachment- Alpha weapons sergeant.
Townsend, a native of Solvang, Calif., volunteered for military service and entered the Army in Aug. 2003 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 Jan. 2004 for Special Forces training. He earned the coveted “Green Beret” in 2005 and was assigned to 1st Bn., 7th SFG(A) at Fort Bragg, N.C., as a Special Forces weapons sergeant.
Townsend’s military education includes; the Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape Course, Basic Airborne Course, Warrior Leaders Course, and Special Forces Qualification Course.
Awards: Bronze Star 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, Combat Infantryman Badge, Parachutist Badge, and the Special Forces Tab.
Townsend is survived by his wife, Rachel, of Pinehurst, N.C.; mother Linda Townsend, of San Jose, Calif.; father, Daniel, and brother, Jordan, of Solvang.
10th Special Forces Group (Airborne)
Assignment: 3rd Battalion
ODA:
18 Z
Date KIA: 18 January 2004
Location: Baghdad, Iraq
Action: Hostile - IED
Master Sgt. Kelly L. Hornbeck, a Special Forces team sergeant assigned to 3rd Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Carson, Colo., was a 36-year-old native of Fort Worth, Texas.
He died Jan. 18, 2004 in Iraq from wounds sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated during a combat patrol near Baghdad.
Hornbeck enlisted in the Army in 1987 and first trained as an infantryman at Fort Benning, Ga., where he would later serve as a drill sergeant. Hornbeck’s initial assignment was with the 3rd Infantry Regiment, “The Old Guard,” at Fort Myer, Va.
Following his initial enlistment, he volunteered for duty with the U.S. Army Special Forces in 1990. After training as a Special Forces weapons sergeant, Hornbeck went on to serve in the 7th and 10th Special Forces groups. During his career as a special operations Soldier, he served as a combat diver, a military free fall parachutist and a jumpmaster, among many other duties. Hornbeck was also a graduate of the U.S. Army Ranger Course.
Awards: Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, the Army Service Ribbon, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Expert Infantryman Badge, the Drill Sergeant Identification Badge, the Military Free Fall Parachutist Badge, the Master Parachutist Badge, the Air Assault Badge, the Combat Diver Badge, the Ranger Tab and the Special Forces Tab.
Hornbeck is survived by his daughters, Tyler Rae Hornbeck and Jaqueline McCall, and his parents, Jeffrey and Camille Hornbeck.
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.
3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne)
Assignment: Company A, 3rd Battalion
ODA: 3312
18 B
Date KIA: 25 January 2008
Location: Barikowt, Afghanistan
Action: Hostile - Small Arms
Staff Sgt. Robert J. Miller, 24, was killed in action Jan. 25, 2008 while conducting combat operations near Barikowt, Afghanistan. He was a Special Forces weapons sergeant assigned to Co. A, 3rd Bn., 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne).
Staff Sgt. Miller was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor by the President at the White House on Oct. 6, 2010. The Medal of Honor is the highest award bestowed an individual for acts of heroism. The award was presented to the family.
Miller was born on October 14, 1983 in Harrisburg, Penn. He grew up in Wheaton, IL where he attended Wheaton North High School. He attended one year at the University of Iowa and then volunteered for military service.
Miller enlisted as a Special Forces trainee in Iowa City, Iowa on Aug. 14, 2003. He graduated from Infantry Basic Training and Airborne School at Ft. Benning, Ga., Jan. 6, 2004. Miller graduated from the Special Forces Qualification Course Sep. 26, 2004, and the Special Forces Weapons Sergeant Course Mar. 4, 2005. He received the Special Forces Tab and was promoted to Sgt. after graduating from the Special Operations French Language Training Course, Sep. 30, 2005. Miller was assigned to Co. A, 3rd Bn., 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne), Ft. Bragg, N.C.
In 2006, Miller deployed with 3rd SFG (A) in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, earning the Army Commendation Medal for valor for his display of courage. He was also promoted to the rank of Staff Sgt. In October 2007, he deployed for a second tour in Afghanistan, where he served as the Weapons Sergeant for his team.
His military training included: Warrior Leader Course; Basic Noncommissioned Officer Course; Basic Airborne Course; the Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape Course; Special Forces Qualification Course; Special Forces Heavy Weapons Course; and the U.S. Army Ranger School.
Awards: Medal of Honor, Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal for Valor, Army Good Conduct Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon with numeral 2, Army Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Parachutist Badge, Special Forces tab and Ranger tab.
Staff Sgt. Miller is survived by his parents, Philip and Maureen Miller, his brothers, Thomas, Martin and Edward, and his sisters, Joanna, Mary, Therese and Patricia, all from Oviedo, Fla.
www.army.mil/medalofhonor/miller
1st Special Forces Group (Airborne)
Assignment: Company C, 2nd Battalion
ODA:
18 C
Date KIA: 28 January 2010
Location: Oruzgan Province, Afghanistan
Action: Hostile - IED
Staff Sgt. Rusty Hunter Christian, 24, of Greenville, Tenn., died when an improvised explosive device exploded during a patrol Jan. 28, 2010 in Oruzgan Province, Afghanistan.
He was assigned to Company C, 2nd Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne), Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., and was deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. This was Christian's second deployment in support of Overseas Contingency Operations.
He enlisted in the U.S. Army Feb. 4, 2004. Upon completion of basic training and advanced individual training, he was assigned to 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division at Joint Base Lewis-McChord as an infantryman.
In 2008, Christian volunteered for the Special Forces Assessment and Selection Course and completed the Special Forces Qualification Course in August 2009. He was then assigned to 2nd Bn., 1st Special Forces Group at Joint Base Lewis-McChord as a Special Forces engineer sergeant.
His military education also includes the U.S. Army Airborne School, Advanced Leaders Course, Warrior Leaders Course, Combat Life Savers Course, Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape Course, Defense Language Institute Indonesian Course and the Special Forces Qualification Course.
Awards: Two Army Commendation Medals, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal with one campaign star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Non-commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon with numeral 2 device, Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, Army Valorous Unit Award and the Meritorious Unit Citation, Parachutist Badge, Combat Infantryman Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge and the Special Forces tab.
He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with one campaign star and the Meritorious Service Medal.
Christian is survived by his wife, Amber Christian and their children, Taylor and Gavin Christian of Orting, Wash. He is also survived by his mother Donna Ball and stepfather Jim Ball of Kingsport, Tenn; his father Michael Christian of Laurel Bloomery, Tenn.; and his brother Aaron Christian of Kingsport, Tenn.
3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne)
Assignment: Company C, 2nd Battalion
ODA: 3334
18 A
Date KIA: 29 January 2010
Location: Wardak Province, Afghanistan
Action: Hostile
Capt. David J. Thompson, 39, died Jan. 29, 2010, in Afghanistan while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
Thompson was commander of Operational Detachment Alpha 3334, Company C, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) and held that position since January 2009. This was Thompson’s third deployment in support of OEF.
He also served in Operation Uphold Democracy in Haiti as well as multiple state humanitarian assistance deployments with the North Carolina National Guard.
He enlisted in 1989 and attended Basic Combat Training at Fort Jackson, S.C. He then went on to attend Advanced Individual Training as a radio operator at Fort Gordon, S.C. Early in his career, Thompson served as a radio telephone operator and team chief for the Regimental Signal Detachment, 75th Ranger Regiment and subsequently, communications sergeant for the Regimental Reconnaissance Detachment with the 75th Ranger Regiment, Fort Benning, Ga.
From 1995 to 1998, he served in Alaska as a rifle squad leader and platoon sergeant with 1st Bn., 501st Parachute Infantry Regt. He later served as a staff noncommissioned officer with the Command Operations Center, U.S. Army Alaska. While attending East Carolina University, from January 1999 to May 2002, he served with the 514th Military Police Company (North Carolina Army National guard).
In May 2002, Thompson completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from ECU and was commissioned as a chemical officer. Following his Officer Basic Course, he was assigned to 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y., as the division chemical logistics officer. In March 2003 he was assigned to 1st Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment and served as a battle captain and rifle platoon leader during Operation Enduring Freedom. From June 2004 to November 2005 he served as the battalion adjutant and rear detachment commander.
From August 2008 to December 2008 he served as executive officer for Company C, 3rd Bn., 3rd SFG (A) and held that position until taking command of ODA 3334 in January 2009.
Thompson’s military education consists of the U.S. Army Airborne School, Ranger school, Free Fall Parachutist course, Basic Military Mountaineering course and the Chemical Officer Basic course.
Awards: Bronze Star medal with “V” device, Army Commendation medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Medal, Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Combat Infantry Badge, Expert Infantry Badge, Military Free Fall Parachutist Badge, Military Freefall Jumpmaster Badge, Ranger Tab.
Thompson is survived by his wife, Emily, their two daughters, Isabelle and Abigail of Pinehurst, N.C, parents Charles and Freida Thompson of Hinton, Okla., and sister Alisa Mueller.
3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne)
Assignment: Company C, 2nd Battalion
ODA: 3334
18 A
Date KIA: 29 January 2010
Location: Wardak Province, Afghanistan
Action: Hostile
Capt. David J. Thompson, 39, died Jan. 29, 2010, in Afghanistan while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
Thompson was commander of Operational Detachment Alpha 3334, Company C, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) and held that position since January 2009. This was Thompson’s third deployment in support of OEF.
He also served in Operation Uphold Democracy in Haiti as well as multiple state humanitarian assistance deployments with the North Carolina National Guard.
He enlisted in 1989 and attended Basic Combat Training at Fort Jackson, S.C. He then went on to attend Advanced Individual Training as a radio operator at Fort Gordon, S.C. Early in his career, Thompson served as a radio telephone operator and team chief for the Regimental Signal Detachment, 75th Ranger Regiment and subsequently, communications sergeant for the Regimental Reconnaissance Detachment with the 75th Ranger Regiment, Fort Benning, Ga.
From 1995 to 1998, he served in Alaska as a rifle squad leader and platoon sergeant with 1st Bn., 501st Parachute Infantry Regt. He later served as a staff noncommissioned officer with the Command Operations Center, U.S. Army Alaska. While attending East Carolina University, from January 1999 to May 2002, he served with the 514th Military Police Company (North Carolina Army National guard).
In May 2002, Thompson completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from ECU and was commissioned as a chemical officer. Following his Officer Basic Course, he was assigned to 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y., as the division chemical logistics officer. In March 2003 he was assigned to 1st Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment and served as a battle captain and rifle platoon leader during Operation Enduring Freedom. From June 2004 to November 2005 he served as the battalion adjutant and rear detachment commander.
From August 2008 to December 2008 he served as executive officer for Company C, 3rd Bn., 3rd SFG (A) and held that position until taking command of ODA 3334 in January 2009.
Thompson’s military education consists of the U.S. Army Airborne School, Ranger school, Free Fall Parachutist course, Basic Military Mountaineering course and the Chemical Officer Basic course.
Awards: Bronze Star medal with “V” device, Army Commendation medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Medal, Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Combat Infantry Badge, Expert Infantry Badge, Military Free Fall Parachutist Badge, Military Freefall Jumpmaster Badge, Ranger Tab.
Thompson is survived by his wife, Emily, their two daughters, Isabelle and Abigail of Pinehurst, N.C, parents Charles and Freida Thompson of Hinton, Okla., and sister Alisa Mueller.
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.
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