1st Special Forces Group (Airborne)
Assignment: Company C, 3rd Battalion
ODA: 18 E
Date KIA: 12 March 2011 OEF
Location: Kajran, Daykundi, Afghanistan
Action: Hostile - IED
Sgt. 1st Class Dae Han Park, 36, of Lacey, Wash., died after his vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device March 12, 2011 in the vicinity of Kajran, Daykundi, Afghanistan.
Park was assigned to Charlie Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne), Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. and was deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom-Afghanistan. This was Park's fourth deployment in support of overseas contingency operations.
Park, a graduate of Watertown High School in Watertown, Conn., enlisted in the U. S. States Army in February 1998, as an Infantryman.
Upon completion of basic training and advanced individual training, Park was assigned to Charlie Company, 3rd Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, Fort Campbell, Ky.
In 2000, he earned the coveted Ranger Tab and participated in the Best Ranger Competition in 2002. In March 2003 he deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, as a Rifle Squad Leader.
Upon his return from Iraq, Park was assigned as an observer/controller at the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk, La. In 2005, Park volunteered for the Special Forces Assessment and Selection Course and completed the Special Forces Qualification Course in 2006.
Park was then assigned to 3rd Bn, 1st SFG (A) Joint Base Lewis-McChord as a Special Forces communications sergeant with Operational Detachment Alpha 1333. During his time with 3rd Bn, he completed numerous worldwide missions to include: Bangladesh, Operation Iraqi Freedom VI, Operation Enduring Freedom-Philippines, Cambodia, and India. This was his first rotation to Afghanistan.
Park’s military education includes the U.S. Army Airborne School, Warrior Leader Course, Basic Non-Commissioned Officers Course, Advanced Leader Course, Ranger School, Air Assault School, Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape Course, Jumpmaster Course, Special Operations Target Interdiction Course and Special Forces Qualification Course.
Awards: Bronze Star Medal, the Army Commendation Medal (1 OLC), the Army Achievement Medal (1 OLC), the Army Good Conduct Medal (4th award), the National Defense Service Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terror Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terror Service Medal, Overseas Service Ribbon (2nd award) Non-commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon (3rd award), Army Service Ribbon, Special Forces Tab, Ranger Tab, Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Expert Infantryman’s Badge, Parachutist’s Badge, and the Air Assault Badge.
He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart.
He is survived by his wife, Mi Kyong Park; his daughters Niyaand Sadie; his parents Joseph and Bonnie Schneider of Thomaston, Conn.; and his sister and brother, Katie and Saejin of Watertown, Conn.
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.
3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne)
Assignment: Company B, 3rd Battalion
ODA:
18 B
Date KIA: 29 May 2011 OEF
Location: Wardak Province, Afghanistan
Action: Hostile - IED
Sgt. 1st Class Martin R. Apolinar died May 29 while on a mounted patrol when the vehicle he and his Special Forces team were traveling in struck an IED in the Wardak Province, Afghanistan. He was born Dec. 31, 1982 and grew up in Phoenix, Ariz. He graduated from the Trevor Browne High School in 2001
Apolinar enlisted in the U.S. Army in 2004 and served as an infantryman with Company B, 1st Battalion, 41st Infantry Regiment, 1st Armored Division at Fort Riley, Kansas. He served as a rifleman, machine gunner and team leader.
He successfully completed the Special Forces Assessment and Selections course and entered the Special Forces Qualification Course at Fort Bragg, N.C. Upon completion of the SFQC, he was assigned to Co., 3rd Bn., 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) in 2008 where he served as the senior Special Forces weapons sergeant for an Operational Detachment – Alpha.
Apolinar deployed twice, first in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Iraq, and now this deployment to Afghanistan (Operation Enduring Freedom) with Company C.
His military education includes: Warrior Leader's Course, U.S. Army Combatives Course Level 1 and 2, Combat Life Savers Course, Special Forces Qualification Course, Special Forces Advanced Reconnaissance Target Analysis and Exploitation Techniques Course, Joint Fires Observer Course, Survival Evasion Resistance and Escape Course, and Advance Leader's Course.
Awards: Bronze Star Medal; Purple Heart; Army Commendation Medal; Army Achievement Medal; Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal; Afghanistan Campaign Medal; Iraq Campaign Medal with one campaign star; Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Overseas Service Medal; Army Service Ribbon; NATO Medal; Combat Infantryman Badge and Parachutists Badge. He earned the Special Forces Tab and Ranger Tab.
Apolinar is survived by his wife Elisa; his son Martin, and his parents Gene and Susan Apolinar of Prescott, Ariz.
3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne)
Assignment: Company C, 2nd Battalion
ODA:
18
Date KIA: 29 May 2011 OEF
Location: Wardak Province, Afghanistan
Action: Hostile - IED
Sgt. Aaron J. Blasjo died May 29 while on a mounted patrol when the vehicle he and his Special Forces team were traveling in struck an IED in the Wardak Province, Afghanistan. He was born March 19, 1986, in Riverside, Calif. He volunteered for military service and entered in the Army in July 2004 as an infantryman (11B).
After completing basic training and Airborne School at Fort Benning, Ga., Blasjo was assigned to 1st Special Warfare Training Group (Airborne) where he completed the Special Forces Qualification Course in December 2006 as a Special Forces communications sergeant. Upon completion of SFQC, he was assigned to Group Support Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne), headquartered at Fort Bragg, N.C.
Blasjo has deployed to three times Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
His military education includes: Basic Infantry Course, Warrior Leader's Course, Advance Leader's Course, Basic Airborne Course, Advanced Pistol Marksmanship, SOC AM General Driving Course, Special Forces Qualification's Course, Special Forces Communication Sergeant's Course, and Survival Evasion Resistance and Escape Course.
Awards: Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart; Army Commendation Medal; Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, NATO Medal; Special Forces Tab; Combat Infantryman Badge; Parachutists Badge.
He is survived by wife Crystal, son Talon; and parents Daniel and Bobbi Blasjo of Riverside, Ca.
3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne)
Assignment: Company A, 3rd Battalion
ODA: 3333
18 A
Date KIA: 29 May 2011 OEF
Location: Wardak Province, Afghanistan
Action: Hostile - IED
Capt. Joseph W. Schultz died May 29 while on a mounted patrol when the vehicle he and his Special Forces team were traveling in struck an IED in the Wardak Province, Afghanistan. He was born March 20, 1975 and grew up in Sacramento, Calif. He graduated from the University of Oregon in 1997 and received his commission as an intelligence officer from Officer Candidate School in 2003.
His first assignment was to 1st Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment (PIR), 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, N.C. He then served as the assistant battalion intelligence officer and as a rifle platoon leader in Company A, 1-504 PIR. Upon completion of his tour with the 1-504 PIR, he then went on to serve as the counterintelligence/human intelligence operations manager for the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division; and later as the G-2 advisor, 10th Iraqi Army Division.
After completing Special Forces Selection and Assessment, he graduated from Special Forces Qualification Course at Fort Bragg, N.C. Upon graduation and receiving his green beret, Schultz was assigned to Co. C, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) where he served as the Detachment Commander of Special Forces Operational Detachment – Alpha 3333.
Schultz deployed in support of various operations across the globe, including: Operation Iraqi Freedom, Iraq and this deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom with Company C.
His military education includes: the Military Intelligence Officer Course, Infantry Captain Career Course, Defense Strategic Debriefer Course, Airborne School, Ranger School, and the Special Forces Qualification Course.
Awards: Bronze Star Medal; Purple Heart; Army Commendation Medal; Army Achievement Medal; National Defense Service Medal; Afghanistan Campaign Medal; Iraq Campaign Medal with one campaign star; Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal; Overseas Service Medal; Army Service Ribbon; Combat Infantryman Badge and Parachutists Badge. He also wore the Special Forces Tab and the Ranger Tab.
He is survived by wife Kelly; and his mother Betsy Reed Schultz of Port Angeles, Wash.
1st Special Forces Group (Airborne)
Assignment: 3rd Battalion
ODA:
18 D
Date KIA: 15 July 2011 OEF
Location: Helmand Province, Afghanistan
Action: Hostile - IED
Sgt. 1st Class Wyatt A. Goldsmith, 28, of Colville, Wash., died July 15, 2011 in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered after enemy forces engaged his unit.
Goldsmith 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-Afghanistan. This was Goldsmith's 3rd deployment in support of Overseas Contingency Operations.
Born in Redmond, Wash. on September 21, 1982, Goldsmith entered the U.S. Army in June 2004 as a Special Forces recruit.
In October 2004, upon completion of basic training, advanced individual training and the basic airborne course at Fort Benning, Ga. he was assigned to the 1st Special Warfare Training Group (Airborne) at Fort Bragg, N.C. Goldsmith attended Special Forces Assessment and Selection in 2005 and was selected to continue his training as medical sergeant in the Special Forces Qualification Course.
After graduating from the Special Forces Qualification Course in 2008, Staff Sgt. Goldsmith was assigned to 3rd Bn, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) Joint Base Lewis-McChord as a Special Forces medical sergeant.
Goldsmith’s military education includes the Special Forces Medical Sergeant Course, Military Freefall Parachutist Course, Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape Course, Basic Airborne Course, Advanced Leaders Course, and the Warrior Leader Course.
Awards: Bronze Star Medal with "V" Device, Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal (2nd Award), Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghan Campaign Medal with one campaign star, Iraqi Campaign Medal with two campaign stars, Global War on Terrorism Medal, Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Parachutist Badge, Military Freefall Parachutist Badge, Special Forces Tab and Combat Infantryman Badge.
He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, and the Meritorious Service Medal. He was also posthumously promoted to Sergeant First Class
He is survived by his parents John and Lorie Goldsmith of Colville, Wash. and his sister Nicole.
10th Special Forces Group (Airborne)
Assignment: 1st Battalion
ODA:
18 Z
Date KIA: 13 September 2011 OEF
Location: Afghanistan
Action: Hostile
Master Sgt. Danial R. Adams, assigned to 1st Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne), Stuttgart, Germany, was killed in action in Afghanistan, Sept. 13.
Adams, a native of Oregon, joined the Army in 1995 as an infantryman, where he served with distinction while assigned to 3rd Bn., 75th Ranger Regiment at Fort Benning, Ga., followed by exemplary service with 1st Bn., 501st Infantry and 1st Bn., 23rd Infantry at Fort Lewis, Wash. After his assignment at Fort Lewis, Adams earned the Green Beret in 2005. His first Special Forces assignment was as a senior medical sergeant with the 3rd SFG (A) at Fort Bragg, N.C. In 2009, he joined 1st Bn., 10th SFG (A), where he served on a Special Forces team. He was killed in action while conducting combat operations with his team in Afghanistan.
Adam's military education includes Airborne School, Jungle Warfare School, Ranger School, Jumpmaster School, Air Assault School, and the Special Forces Qualification Course.
Adam's duty stations include Fort Benning, Fort Lewis, Fort Bragg, and Stuttgart, Germany.
Awards: Bronze Star Medal with 2 oak leaf clusters, the Army Commendation Medal with 2 oak leaf clusters, the Army Achievement Medal with 3 oak leaf clusters, the Army Good Conduct Medal with bronze clasp (4 Loops), the National Defense Service Medal with 1 service star, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal (with Campaign Star), the Iraq Campaign Medal (with Campaign Star), the Global War on Terror Service Medal, the Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon with the Numeral 2, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the NATO Medal, Special Forces Tab, Ranger Tab, the Parachutist Badge, the Air Assault Badge, Combat Infantryman's Badge and Expert Infantryman's Badge.
He is survived by his wife Melany, his two sons Jeffrey and John, and his daughter Skye.
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