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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
/br>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.
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: 1stBn., 3rd SFG (A)
ODA:
18 E
Date KIA: 23 October 2010 OEF
Location: Wardak province, Afghanistan.
Action: Hostile
Chief Warrant Officer 2, Michael Stephen Duskin, 42, of Orange Park, Fla., died Oct. 23, 2012, of wounds received from small-arms fire in Wardak province, Afghanistan.
He was assigned to Company A, 1stBattalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Bragg, N.C., and was deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
Duskin enlisted as a forward observer in the U.S. Army in 1993. After completion of his initial training, at the Basic Airborne Course, he was assigned to the 3rd Bn., 75thRanger Regiment. After serving three years with the 75thRanger Regtiment, Duskin left active duty and later joined the Florida National Guard. He attended the Special Forces Assessment and Selection Course and graduated from the Special Forces Qualification Course in August 1998. Upon graduation, he was assigned to the 3rdBn., 20th SFG (A) as a Special Forces engineer sergeant.
In 2001, Duskin was mobilized to active duty and deployed with the 2ndBn., 3rd SFG (A). After the deployment he returned to active duty and remained a member of the unit. He served with the 2nd Bn. for more than five years, deploying fourtimes before being assigned to the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School as an instructor. While serving as an instructor, he attended the Special Forces Warrant Officer Technical and Tactical Certification Course, graduating in May 2010. He was then assigned to the 1stBn., 3rd SFG (A) as an assistant detachment commander in Company A. This was his second deployment to Afghanistan in that position.
His military education includesBasic Airborne Course, Warrior Leader Course, Advanced Leader Course,Jungle Operations Training Course, Special Forces Qualification Course, Special Forces Advanced Urban Combat Course, Special Forces Advanced Reconnaissance Target Analysis and Exploitation TechniquesCourse, the Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape Course (SERE), Special Operations Target Interdiction Course, Jumpmaster Course, Warrant Officer Basic Course and the Special Forces Warrant Officer Technical and Tactical Certification Course.
Duskin's military awards and decorations include two Bronze Star Medals, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Joint Commendation Medal, three Army Commendation Medals, the Army Achievement Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, two National Defense Service Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Humanitarian Service Medal, two Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbons, the Army Service Ribbon, the Expert Infantryman Badge, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Basic ParachutistBadge, and the Special Forces Tab.
He was posthumously awarded another Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart Medal and Meritorious Service Medal.
3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne)
Assignment: 4th Battalion
ODA: 18 E
Date KIA: 21 July 2012 OEF
Location: Ghazni Province, Afghanistan
Action: Hostile
Staff Sgt. Brandon Robert Pepper, 31, of Baltimore, M.D. died when insurgents attacked his patrol 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 Pepper's second deployment in support of Overseas Contingency Operations.
He graduated from Kenwood High School in 1999 and enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserves in January 2000.
Upon completion of Basic Training and Advanced Individual Training, he was assigned to the 323rd Military Intelligence Battalion, Fort Meade, Md., where he served as an intelligence analyst and deployed in March 2003 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Pepper entered Active Duty in 2008 and attended Infantry Advanced Individual Training at Fort Benning, Ga. He was then assigned to the 101st Airborne Division as an Infantry squad leader.
In October 2009, Pepper graduated from the Special Forces Assessment and Selection Course at Fort Bragg, N.C. He then completed the Special Forces Qualification Course in 2011 and was assigned to 4th Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Bragg as an SF communications sergeant (18E).
His military education also includes the Basic Airborne Course, Advanced Leader's Course, Warrior Leader's Course, Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape Course, and the Special Forces Qualification Course.
Staff Sgt. Pepper’s awards and decorations include the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal with one oak-leaf cluster, Army Good Conduct Medal, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with “M” device, Non-commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon with numeral 2 device, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon with numeral 2 device, Special Forces Tab, Expert
Pepper is survived by his spouse, brother and parents.
3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne)
Assignment: Company B, 4th Battalion
ODA: 18 E
Date KIA: Died Aug. 8 of wounds inflicted from small-arms fire on July 31
Location: Shindand Province, Afghanistan
Action: Small-Arms Fire
Master Sgt. Gregory R. Trent, 38, of Norton, Mass., died Aug. 8 of wounds inflicted from small-arms fire July 31, in Shindand 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 Trent's fifth deployment in support of Overseas Contingency Operations.
He enlisted as an artilleryman in the U.S. Army in August 1998. Upon completion of his initial training, he was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment. He was next assigned to Italy, where he served as a howitzer section chief and deployed to both Afghanistan and Iraq.
In 2006, Trent volunteered for the Special Forces Assessment and Selection Course. Following his completion of the Special Forces Qualification Course in August 2007, he reported to the 1st Bn., 3rd SFG(A) as a Special Forces communications sergeant.
During his time with 1st Battalion. Trent deployed to Operation Enduring Freedom in 2009. He was then assigned to the 4th Bn., 3rd SFG(A), where he served as a communications sergeant in the with Co. B. He deployed with 4th Bn., in April 2010 for four months and recently returned to Afghanistan with the battalion in January 2012.
His military education includes the Basic Airborne Course, U.S. Army Combatives Course, Warrior Leader's Course, Advanced Leader's Course, Senior Leader's Course, Equal Opportunity Leaders Course, Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape Course, Military Free Fall School, Jumpmaster School, Special Forces Intelligence Sergeant Course, and the Special Forces Qualification Course.
Trent’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, two Army Commendation Medals, three Army Achievement Medals, four Good Conduct Medals, National Defense Service Medal, three Afghanistan Campaign Medals, two Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, four Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbons, five Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbons, NATO Medal, Parachutist Badge, Military Freefall Parachutist Badge, Combat Infantryman Badge, and the Special Forces tab.
He is survived by his wife, daughter, parents and brother.
1st Special Forces Group (Airborne)
Assignment: Company A, 1st Battalion
ODA: 18 B
Date KIA: 1 September 2012
Location: Ghazni Province, Afghanistan
Action: Small Arms Fire
Staff Sgt. Jeremie S. Border, 28, of Mesquite, Texas, died September 1, 2012, by small arms fire while conducting combat operations in Ghazni Province, Afghanistan.
Border was assigned to Company Alpha, 1st Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne), Okinawa, Japan and was deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom- Afghanistan.
Border graduated from Mesquite High School in 2002 and attended college at McMurry University in Abilene, Texas earning his Bachelor's Degree in Sociology and Communications in 2006.
He entered the Army in 2006 as an infantryman, where he completed basic training, advanced individual training and basic airborne course at Fort Benning, Ga. In 2006 he was assigned to 1-17th Infantry Division at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.
In 2008, Border was selected during the Special Forces Assessment and Selection Course as a SF weapons sergeant, and learned Indonesian at the Special Operations Forces Language Course at the United States Army John F. Kennedy Warfare Center and School.
He was originally assigned to Company Bravo, 1st Bn., 1st SFG (Airborne), Okinawa, Japan in 2009 and was assigned to Company Alpha prior to his deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom-Afghanistan.
Border's military education includes the Special Forces Qualification Course, the Warrior Leader's Course, the Advanced Leader's Course, the Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE) Course and the Basic Airborne Course.
His awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terror Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terror Service Medal, Non-commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon with numeral 2, Army Service Ribbon, Special Forces Tab, Expert Infantry Badge and the Army Parachutist Badge.
He has been posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the Meritorious Service Medal, and the Afghan Campaign Medal.
He is survived by his mother, Mary Lynne Border, and sister, DeLaynie Kaye Roberts of Mesquite, Texas.
For further information, media should contact the Special Forces Command Public Affairs Office during duty hours at 910-643-8438 or after duty hours at 910-429-4165.
Operation Enduring Freedom-Afghanistan
Assignment: Company B, 1st Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne)
ODA:
MOS: 18D
Date KIA: 28 September 2012 OEF
Location: Wardak Province, Afghanistan
Action: HOSTILE
Sgt. 1st Class Riley G. Stephens, 39, of Tolar, Texas, died Sept. 28 of wounds received from small-arms fire in Wardak Province, Afghanistan.
He was assigned to Company B, 1st Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Bragg, N.C., and was deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
Stephens enlisted as an infantryman in the U.S. Army in 1993. Upon completion of his initial training, he was assigned to 1st Bn., 327th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, at Fort Campbell, Ky. There he served as a Squad Automatic Weapon Gunner, Radio-Telephone Operator and Team Leader with Company B. His next assignment was with the 1st Bn., 17th Inf. Reg., Fort Wainwright, Alaska, where he served as a Scout Section Leader.
Stephens volunteered for the Special Forces Assessment and Selection Course, and graduated from the Special Forces Qualification Course in March 2005. Upon earning his Special Forces tab, he reported to the 1st Bn., 3rd SFG (A) as a Special Forces medical sergeant. He served on five separate deployments to Afghanistan with the 1st Bn.
His military education includes U.S. Army Air Assault School, U.S. Army Airborne School, Warrior Leaders Course, Advanced Leaders Course, Senior Leaders Course, Hostage Negotiation Course, Advanced Cardiac Life Support Course, Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape Course, Special Forces Advanced Urban Combat Course, Special Operations Target Interdiction Course, U.S. Army Ranger School and the Special Forces Qualification Course.<\p>
Stephens' military awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal with Valor Device, two Bronze Star Medals, the Purple Heart, the Army Commendation Medal with Valor Device, four Army Commendation Medals, four Army Achievement Medals, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with three Campaign Stars, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon Military, the Army Service Ribbon, two Overseas Service Ribbons, the NATO Medal, Air Assault Badge, the Basic Parachutist Badge, the Expert Infantryman Badge, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Ranger Tab and the Special Forces Tab.<\p>
He is survived by his wife, three children and father.
5th Special Forces Group (Airborne)
Assignment: Company A, 2nd Battalion
ODA:
MOS:
Date KIA: 2 October 2012 OEF
Location: Helmand Province, Afghanistan
Action: Hostile - IED
Sgt.1st Class Aaron A. Henderson, 33, of Houlton, Maine, died Oct. 2 of wounds sustained from an improvised explosive device attack on Sept. 30, in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.
He was assigned to Company A, 2nd Battalion, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Campbell, Ky., and was deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
Henderson enlisted as an administrative specialist in the U.S. Army in 2000. Upon completion of his initial training, he was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 24th Transportation Battalion at Fort Eustis, Va. His next assignment was with U.S. Army Garrison – Japan, Camp Zama, Japan, where he served as the Officer Management Branch NCOIC.
Henderson volunteered for the Special Forces Assessment and Selection Course, and graduated from the Special Forces Qualification Course in 2006. Upon earning his Special Forces tab, he initially reported to HHC, 5th SFG (A) as the communications chief. He was then assigned to 2nd Bn., 5th SFG (A) as a Special Forces senior communications sergeant. He served on three deployments to Iraq and one to Afghanistan with 2nd Bn.
His military education includes: Special Operations Command Jumpmaster Course, Senior Leaders Course, U.S. Army Combatives Course Level 1, Advanced Special Operations Techniques Course, Combat Diver Qualification Course, U.S. Army Ranger School, Survival Evasion Resistance and Escape Course, Special Forces Qualification Course, Advance Leaders Course, U.S. Army Airborne School, Combat Life Savers Course, and Warrior Leaders Course.
Henderson's military awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal, three Army Achievement Medals, four Army Good Conduct Medals, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with one Campaign Star, the Iraq Campaign Medal with two Campaign Stars, 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 Meritorious Unit Commendation, the Special Forces Tab, the Ranger Tab, the Special Operations Diver Badge, the Combat Infantryman Badge, and the Master Parachutists Badge.
Henderson is survived by his mother and his brother.
3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne)
Assignment:Company B, 1st Battalion
ODA:
MOS:
Date KIA: 06 October 2012 OEF
Location: Wardak Province, Afghanistan
Action: Small Arms Fire
Staff Sgt.Justin C. Marquez, 25, of Aberdeen, N.C., died Oct. 6 of wounds received from small-arms fire in Wardak Province, Afghanistan.
He was assigned to Company B, 1st Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Bragg, N.C., and was deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. This was his first deployment in support of overseas contingency operations
Marquez enlisted in the Army in January 2009, completing his initial Infantry and Airborne training in June of that year. He was then stationed at Ft. Bragg and attended the Special Forces Assessment and Selection. In February 2011, Marquez graduated from the Special Forces Qualification Course and was assigned to the 1stBn., 3rd SFG (A).
His military education includes U.S. Army Airborne School, Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape School, Advanced Leaders Course, and the Special Forces Qualification Course.
His military awards and decorations include the Army Achievement Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on TerrorismService Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Parachutist Badge and the Special Forces Tab.
He is survived by his father, mother and brother.
Wardak Province, Afghanistan
Assignment: Company B, 1st Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne)
ODA:
MOS: 18E
Date KIA: 06 October 2012 OEF
Location: Wardak Province, Afghanistan
Action: HOSTILE
Warrant Officer Joseph L. Schiro, 27, of Coral Springs, Fla., died Oct. 6 of wounds received from small-arms fire in Wardak Province, Afghanistan.
He was assigned to Company B, 1st Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Bragg, N.C., and was deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. This was his fifth combat deployment, and fourth to Afghanistan.
Schiro enlisted in the Army in June 2004 as an airborne infantryman. After completing his initial Infantry and Airborne training at Fort Benning, Ga., he was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 504 mth Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, at Fort Bragg. While with the 3rd Bn., Schiro deployed to Iraq for six months in 2006. Schiro volunteered for the Special Forces Assessment and Selection upon his return to Fort Bragg, and was selected to attend the Special Forces Qualification Course. He graduated in March 2008 and was assigned to the 1st Bn., 3rd SFG (A), as a Special Forces Communications Sergeant.
After serving on three deployments to Afghanistan with the 1st Bn., Schiro attended the Special Forces Warrant Officer Technical and Tactical Certification Course. He graduated in May and was assigned as an assistant detachment commander in Company B.
His military education includes U.S. Army Airborne School, Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape School, Warrior Leaders Course, Advanced Leaders Course, Modern Army Combatives Level One, Special Forces Intelligence Sergeant’s Course, Advanced Special Operations Techniques Course, Special Forces Warrant Officer Certification Course, Special Forces Detachment Leader’s Course, and the Special Forces Qualification Course.
His military awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal (2), the Army Commendation Medal (2), the Army Achievement Medal (2), the Army Good Conduct Medal (2), the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with 3 Campaign Stars, the Iraq Campaign Medal with 2 Campaign Stars, the Army Service Ribbon, the NATO Medal, the Parachutist Badge, the Combat Infantryman Badge and the Special Forces Tab.
He is survived by his wife, three children and parents.
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