1st Special Forces Group (Airborne)
Assignment: Company C, 2nd Battalion
ODA:
18 C
Date KIA: 28 January 2010 OEF
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, 3rd Battalion
ODA: 3334
18 A
Date KIA: 29 January 2010 OEF
Location: Afghanistan
Action:
CPT 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.
1st Special Forces Group (Airborne)
Assignment: Company C, 2nd Battalion
ODA:
18 Z
Date KIA: 2 May 2010 OEF
Location: Kandahar Province, Afghanistan
Action: Hostile - IED
Master Sgt. Mark W. Coleman, 40, of Yelm, Wash. died when he stepped on an improvised explosive device on May 02, 2010, in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan.
Coleman 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-Afghanistan. This was his fifth deployment in support of an Overseas Contingency Operation.
Coleman, a graduate of Goldendale High School in Goldendale, Wash., enlisted in the U.S. Army on Oct. 31, 1988, as a Fire Support Specialist.
Upon completion of basic training and advanced individual training, Coleman was assigned to 2-32 FA in Wiesbaden Germany. Coleman served in numerous fire support assignments at Fort Sill, Okla., Camp Casey, Republic Of Korea and Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.
In 1999, Coleman volunteered for the Special Forces Assessment and Selection Course and completed the Special Forces Qualification Course in August 2001.
Coleman was then assigned to 3rd Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. as a Special Forces weapons sergeant. He served in the unit from 2001-2006 and completed two rotations to the Philippines in support of Operation Enduring Freedom-Philippines.
In 2006, Coleman was selected to participate in the Military Personnel Exchange Program and was assigned to the Australian Special Air Service Regiment. During his time with the Australian SAS, he completed two tours in Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom-Afghanistan.
In 2008, Coleman returned to Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) and completed a third rotation to Operation Enduring Freedom-Philippines.
Coleman's military education includes the U.S. Army Airborne School, Warrior Leaders Course, Basic Non-Commissioned Officers Course, Advanced Non-Commissioned Officers Course, Ranger School, Mountain Warfare School, Combat Life Savers Course, Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape Course, Air Assault Course, Jumpmaster Course, Joint Fire Power Course, Special Operations Target Interdiction Course, Special Forces Advanced Reconnaissance, Target Analysis, and Exploitation Techniques Course and the Special Forces Qualification Course.
Awards: Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Defense Service Medal, the Afghan Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Non-commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon and the NATO Medal. Coleman earned the Special Forces qualification tab, the Ranger qualification tab, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Parachutist Badge and the Air Assault Badge.
He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal and the Purple Heart.
Coleman is survived by his wife, Barbie of Yelm, Wash. and their children, Brett of Fort Richardson, Alaska and Jessica of Yelm, Wash. He is also survived by his mother Alice Fay Eshelman of Centerville, Wash., his adoptive-father James Coleman of Wenatchee, Wash. and his father Harley Neal Vermilion of Texas.
3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne)
Assignment: Company C, 3rd Battalion
ODA:
18 A
Date KIA: 29 July 2010 OEF
Location: Afghanistan
Action: Hostile - IED
CPT. Jason E. Holbrook, 28, died of wounds sustained from an IED blast during a combat reconnaissance patrol. He was a Special Forces Operational Detachment-Alpha team leader 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.
Holbrook, a native of Burnet, Texas, was accepted to the United States Military Academy where he majored in Environmental Science. Capt. Holbrook’s first assignment was as a Rifle Platoon Leader in Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 501st (Airborne) at Fort Richardson, Alaska. He served there for three years and deployed with the unit to Iraq between 2006 and 2007. Following his deployment he reported to Fort Benning, Ga.. to attend the Maneuver Captains Career Course and then Fort Bragg, N.C., to attend the Special Forces Qualification Course. Capt. Holbrook graduated the course on the 16th of April 2010 and reported to 1st Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group on the 27th of May.
Holbrook’s military education includes the Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape Course; Ranger Course; Basic Airborne Course; Infantry Officer Basic Course; Infantry Maneuver Captains Career Course and Special Forces Qualification Course.
Awards: Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Medal, Parachutist Badge, Combat Infantry Badge, Expert Infantry Badge, Ranger Tab and the Special Forces Tab. He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, NATO Medal, and Meritorious Service Medal.
CPT. Holbrook is survived by his wife Heather Holbrook of Fayetteville, N.C.; mother and father Joan and James Holbrook of Burnet, Texas.
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.
NOTE: 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: Company A, 2nd Battalion
ODA:
18 D
Date KIA: 29 September 2010 OEF
Location: Uruzgan Province, Afghanistan
Action: Hostile
Sgt. 1st Class Calvin B. Harrison, 31, was killed Sept. 29, during a combat operation in Uruzgan Province, Afghanistan. He was a Special Forces medical sergeant assigned to Company A, 2nd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne).
Harrison was born March 11, 1979, in Cleveland, Texas. He graduated from Jones High School in Coldspring, Texas, and enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1998 as a psychological operations specialist. He served with the 4th Psychological Operations Group (Airborne) at Fort Bragg, N.C., as a psychological operations specialist.
In 2007, Harrison completed the Special Forces Qualification Course and earned the coveted "Green Beret" as a Special Forces medical sergeant, 18D. He was then assigned to the 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne), also at Fort Bragg, N.C.
Harrison’s military education includes the Basic Airborne Course, Warrior Leader Course, Advanced Leaders Course, Special Forces Qualification Course and Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape Course.
Awards: Bronze Star Medal, Army Commendation Medal, two Army Achievement Medals, Army Good Conduct Medal (third award), National Defense Service Medal, Kosovo Campaign Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon with numeral three, Army Service Ribbon, Special Forces Tab, Combat Infantryman Badge and Parachutist Badge.
Note: He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal (second award), the Purple Heart and the Meritorious Service Medal.
Harrison is survived by two daughters, Azalia, Eleanna, and his parents, Jack Washington and Betty Harrison of Cleveland, Texas.
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