3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne)
Assignment: Company B, 1st Battalion
ODA:
Date KIA: 11 March 2013 OEF
Location: Wardak Province, Afghanistan
Action: Small Arms Fire
Captain Andrew Michael Pedersen-Keel, 28, of Madison, Conn., died Mar. 11, 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.
Pedersen-Keel was commissioned as an Infantry Officer after graduating from the U.S. Military Academy in 2006. After graduation he attended the Infantry Officer Basic Course and the U.S. Army Ranger School at Fort Benning, Ga. Following his training, he was assigned to the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division (Light) at Fort Hood, Texas.
In June 2008, Pedersen-Keel deployed to Afghanistan for 12 months with the 3rd BCT where he served as a company executive officer and platoon leader. Upon completion of the deployment, he volunteered for the Special Forces Assessment and Selection Course. After completing the Special Forces Qualification Course and language training, he was assigned to the 1st Bn., 3rd SFG (A) as a detachment commander in August 2012. He deployed with the unit to Afghanistan later that year.
His military education includes U.S. Army Airborne School, U.S. Army Ranger School, Combat Lifesaver Course, Combatives Level I Course, Sniper Employment Leaders Course, Pathfinder Course, Maneuver Captain's Career Course, the Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape Course, and the Special Forces Detachment Officer Qualification Course.
Pedersen-Keel's awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal (2), the Army Commendation Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two Campaign Stars, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the NATO Medal, the Air Assault Badge, the Expert Infantryman Badge, the Parachutist Badge, the Pathfinder Badge, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Ranger Tab, and the Special Forces Tab.
He is survived by his parents and sister.
1st Special Forces Group (Airborne)
Assignment: Company A, 4th Battalion
ODA:
Date KIA: 21 March 2013 OEF
Location: Paktika Province, Afghanistan
Action: Small Arms Fire
Sgt. 1st Class James F. Grissom, 31, of Hayward, Calif. died March 21, 2013 at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Germany, of injuries sustained from small arms fire on March 18 in Paktika Province, Afghanistan.
Grissom was assigned to Co. A, 4th Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne), Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., and was deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom-Afghanistan. This was Grissom's fifth deployment to an Overseas Contingency Operation
Grissom graduated from Mt. Eden High School in 1999 and attended college at the Art Institute of San Francisco, earning his Associate's Degree in Computer Animation.
He enlisted in the Army in June, 2003, under the 18X Special Forces Enlistment Program.
After graduating from the Special Forces Qualification Course in October, 2005, Grissom was assigned to 2nd Battalion., 1st SFG (A) JBLM. During his time with 2nd Battalion, Grissom deployed on several JCETs (Joint Combined Exchange Training), and deployed to Iraq in 2009. Grissom wasre-assigned to 4thBattalion in Nov. 2010 as an engineersergeant and deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom-Afghanistan in 2012.
Grissom's military education includes the Special Forces Qualification Course, Warrior Leader Course, Advanced Leader Course, Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE) Course, the Special Forces Advanced Reconnaissance, Target Analysis, and Exploitation Techniques Course, and the Basic Airborne Course.
His awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal (2nd Oak Leaf Cluster), the National Defense Service Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Afghan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Overseas Service Ribbon, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon with numeral 2, Army Service Ribbon, Special Forces Tab, Combat Infantryman Badge, and the Parachutist Badge.
He was posthumously awarded the Bronze star Medal.
He is survived by his wife, parents and his sister.
5th Special Forces Group (Airborne)
Assignment: 2nd Battalion
ODA: 18 D
Date KIA: 3 June 2013 OEF
Location: Ghur Ghuri, Afghanistan
Action: Hostile - IED
Warrant Officer Sean W. Mullen, 39, of Rehobeth Beach, Del., died June 2, 2013, in Ghur Ghuri, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained from an improvised explosive device.
Mullen was assigned to Company B, 2nd Battalion, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Campbell, Ky., as an assistant detachment commander for a Special Forces Operational Detachment-Alpha (ODA), or A-team. He was deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom-Afghanistan. This was Mullen’s sixth deployment in support of an overseas contingency operation.
Mullen enlisted in the Army in November, 1995, as an Infantryman. Upon completion of basic training and advanced individual training, Mullen was assigned to 3rd Bn., 327th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). After successful completion of the Basic Airborne Course at Fort Benning, Ga., he was assigned to 1st Bn., 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C. In March 2001, Mullen was assigned to 1st Bn., 503rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, Camp Casey, Republic of Korea. In April 2002, Mullen was assigned to instruct at the Basic Airborne and Pathfinder courses at Fort Benning, Ga.
Mullen volunteered for the Special Forces Assessment and Selection Course and completed the Special Forces Qualification Course in April 2007.
He was assigned to Co. A, 2nd Bn., 5th SFG (A) as a medical sergeant and later became the senior medical sergeant for the company. Mullen spent two years on a Special Forces team until his selection as the company operations sergeant. After a successful deployment as the company operations sergeant in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Mullen was assigned as the senior medic for a Special Forces team in Company A. Mullen deployed again to in support of OIF. Mullen was a member of the first battalion within the U.S. Army Special Forces Command (A) qualified to conduct Unconventional Warfare. Mullen additionally deployed to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in support of Special Operations Command - Central requirements.
Mullen was selected to attend the Warrant Officer Technical and Tactical Certification Course; graduating as a Warrant Officer in November 2012.
Mullen’s military education includes the Special Forces Qualification Course, Warrant Officer Technical and Tactical Certification Course, Advanced Special Operations Technical Course, Special Forces Medical Course, Special Operations Combat Medical Skills Sustainment Course, Total Army Instructor Training Course, Warrior Leader Course, Advanced Leader Course, Senior Leader Course, Combat Life Savers Course, Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE) Course, Combatives Level 1, Pathfinder Course, Static-line Jumpmaster Course, Infantry Mortar Leaders Course, and the Airborne Course.
His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal with oak leaf cluster, Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Army Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Joint Service Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal with seven oak leaf clusters, the Good Conduct Medal with four knots, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two campaign stars, the Iraq Campaign Medal with three campaign stars, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Korea Defense Service Medal, the Armed Forces Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon with numeral “2” device, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon with one oak leaf cluster, the Army Reserve Component Overseas Training Ribbon, the Joint Unit Meritorious Award, the Army Meritorious Unit Commendation Award with one oak leaf cluster, Special Forces Tab, Combat Infantryman Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, Pathfinder Badge, Air Assault Badge, Senior Parachutist Badge and the Parachutist Badge.
He is survived by his wife and parents.
3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne)
Assignment: Company C, 3rd Battalion
ODA:
18 Z
Date KIA: 20 August 2013 OEF
Location: Wardak Province, Afghanistan
Action: Small Arms Fire
Master Sgt. George A. Bannar Jr., 37, of Orange, Va., died Aug. 20 of wounds received from small-arms fire in Wardak Province, Afghanistan.
He was assigned to Company C, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Bragg, N.C., and was deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. This was Bannar's fifth deployment to Afghanistan.
Bannar enlisted as a medical specialist in the U.S. Army in October 1996, completing his medical training at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, and then attending the U.S. Army Airborne School at Fort Benning, Ga. Upon completion of his initial training, he was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division. While serving in the 82nd he volunteered for the Special Forces Assessment and Selection and began his Special Forces training in 2001.
In July 2003, he graduated from the Special Forces Qualification Course as a Special Forces Medical Sergeant, and was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 3rd SFG (A). Bannar served in the 1st Bn. for five years, deploying with the unit to Afghanistan four times. In August 2008, he was assigned to the 1st Special Warfare Training Group (Airborne) and stationed in Yuma, Ariz., where he worked at the Military Free Fall School as an instructor. In October 2012, Bannar returned to the 3rd SFG (A) and was assigned to the 3rd Bn.
Bannar earned an Associate's Degree from Fayetteville Technical Community College and a Bachelor's Degree from Campbell University. His military education includes Airborne School, Warrior Leaders Course, Jumpmaster School, Air Assault School, Advanced Leaders Course, Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape Course, Senior Leaders Course, Advanced Special Operations Techniques Course, Military Free Fall School, Military Free Fall Jumpmaster School, Advanced Military Free Fall Parachutist School, Basic Instructor Course, Small Group Instructor Training Course and the Special Forces Qualification Course.
Bannar's awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal with Valor Device, Meritorious Service Medal, Bronze Star Medal, Army Commendation Medal with Valor Device , Army Commendation Medal (3), Army Achievement Medal, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Army Good Conduct Medal (5), National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with three Campaign Stars, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon (3), Army Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Expert Field Medical Badge, Air Assault Badge, Canadian Parachutist Badge, Royal Netherlands Army Parachutist Badge, Venezuelan Parachutist Badge, Master Parachutist Badge, Military Free Fall Jumpmaster Badge, Combat Medical Badge, Combat Infantryman Badge and the Special Forces Tab.
He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star.
He is survived by his wife and his parents.
19th Special Forces Group (Airborne)
Assignment: Company B, 5th Battalion
ODA:
Date KIA: Sep. 21, 2013, OEF
Location: Paktika Province, Afghanistan
Action: Small Arms Fire
Nevins was born on Sept. 11, 1981, in Middlebury, Vt. Nevins enlisted in the U.S. Army under the delayed entry program prior to his graduation from Bristol Borough High School.
Upon entering active duty, he was assigned to Company A, 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, Fort Bragg, N.C. Shortly after being promoted to the rank of sergeant, he deployed with Company A in 2003 as a rifle team leader in support of Operations Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan. He completed two more deployments to both Iraq and Afghanistan in 2004 and 2005.
Nevins attended Metropolitan State College of Denver from Aug. 2006 to May 2009, after leaving active duty service.
In May of 2009, he enlisted into the Colorado Army National Guard. Nevins attended the Special Forces Qualification Course at Fort Bragg, N.C. from Jan. 2010 to Aug. 2011. He was assigned to Co. B, 5th Bn., 19th SFG (A) in Fort Carson, Colo.
His military education includes: United States Army Infantry School, Airborne School, Primary Leadership Development Course, Advanced Leaders Course, Static Line Jumpmaster Course, Reconnaissance Surveillance Leaders Course, Ranger School, Special Operations Language Training Arabic Course, the Special Forces Qualification Course as a communications sergeant, and the Special Forces Advanced Urban Combat Course.
His Awards include a Purple Heart with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster (2nd Award), Army Commendation Medal with two Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters (3rd Award), Army Achievement Medal with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster (2nd Award), Valorous Unit Award, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with three Campaign Stars, Iraq Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, NATO Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon with Bronze Numeral Two, Army Service Ribbon, Army Overseas Service Ribbon, Special Forces Tab, Ranger Tab, Combat Infantryman Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, Parachutist Badge, Colorado Meritorious Service Medal, and the Colorado Active Service Medal.
Nevins is survived by his mother, his father, two sisters, and his fiancé.
Operation Enduring Freedom-Afghanistan
Assignment: Company A, 2nd Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne)
ODA:
Date KIA: 21 September 2013 OEF
Location: Paktika Province, Afghanistan.
Action: Small Arms Fire
McGill joined the Marines in Hawaii in 2001, as a machine gunner and was assigned to the 3 rd Marine Division. He deployed with the 3rd Marine Div. in 2005. He joined the Rhode Island National Guard in 2008, and was assigned to 1st Bn., 200th Infantry Battalion as an anti-armor a specialist. In 2011, McGill graduated from the Special Forces Qualification Course as a weapons sergeant and was assigned to Co. A, 2nd Bn., 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne).
His military education includes U.S. Army Airborne School, Combat Lifesaver Course, Combatives Level I Course, the Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape Course, French Special Operations Language Training, Level I, the Special Forces Qualification Course and Special Forces Advanced Urban Combat Course.
McGill's awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Parachutist Badge, Naval Unit Citation, the Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (4th award), the Non-commissioned Officers Professional Development Ribbon (numeral 2) and the Special Forces Tab.
He is survived by his parents and two sisters.
10th Special Forces Group (Airborne)
Assignment: 3rd Battalion
ODA:
18 C
Date KIA: 13 October 2013
Location: Panjwai Province, Afghanistan
Action: Small Arms Fire
Staff Sgt. Patrick H. Quinn, 26, assigned to 3rd Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Carson, Colo., died Oct. 13 of wounds received from small-arms fire in Paktika Province, Afghanistan.
Quinn was born in Delaware and claimed Quarryville, Pa., as his home of record. He enlisted as an infantryman in the U.S. Army in July 2006. Upon completion of his initial training, he was assigned to 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment at Fort Wainwright, Alaska. He continued his service with 1st Battalion, 35th Armor Regiment at Fort Bliss, Texas. Quinn completed a combat deployment to Iraq from September 2008 to August 2009.
After his assignment at Fort Bliss, Quinn volunteered for the Special Forces Assessment and Selection. He graduated from the Special Forces Qualification Course in 2013. His first assignment as a Green Beret was as an engineer sergeant with 3rd 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 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
Quinn’s military education includes the Northern Warfare Course, Combatives Level 2, Combat Life Saver Course, Warrior Leader Course, Advanced Leader Course, Basic Military Mountaineering School, Airborne School, and the Special Forces Qualification Course. His awards and decorations include four Army Commendation Medals, the Army Achievement Medal, Meritorious Unit Commendation, two Army Good Conduct Medals, the National Defense Service Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal (with 2 Campaign Stars), the Global War on Terror Service Medal, two Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbons, the Army Service Ribbon, two Overseas Service Ribbons, Special Forces Tab, Parachutist Badge, and the Combat Infantryman's Badge.
Quinn was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal (with Campaign Star), and the NATO Medal.
He is survived by his wife and their three sons.
7th Special Forces Group (Airborne)
Assignment: Company B, 3rd Battalion
ODA:
18 B
Date KIA: 13 November 2013
Location: Panjwai Province, Afghanistan
Action: Hostile - IED
Staff Sgt. Richard Lee Vazquez, 28, of Seguin, Texas, died Nov. 13, 2013, of wounds received from an improvised explosive device blast in Panjwai province, Afghanistan.
He was assigned to Company B, 3rd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne), and was deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom - Afghanistan. This was Vazquez' fifth deployment during his military career.
Vazquez joined the Army in August 2004, as an infantryman. He attended initial Infantry training at Ft. Benning, Ga., and was assigned to the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Ft. Campbell, Ky., from July 2005 to Sep. 2009.
In Sept. 2009, Vazquez volunteered for the Special Forces Assessment and Selection. He graduated from the Special Forces Qualification Course in December 2010, and was assigned to the 3rd Bn., 7th SFG (A) as a weapons sergeant.
His military education includes U.S. Army Basic Airborne Course, U.S. Army Air Assault, Combat Lifesaver Course, Warrior Leader Course, the Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape Course, the Special Forces Qualification Course, Senior Mountaineer Course, Master Mountaineer Course, and SOF Sensitive Site Exploitation - Operator Advanced Course.
Vazquez' awards and decorations include the Purple Heart, the Army Commendation Medal (3rd award), the Army Achievement Medal (2nd award), the Meritorious Unit Citation, the Army Good Conduct Medal (2nd award), the National Defense Service Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal with one Campaign Star, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon with Numeral 2, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon (2nd award), the NATO Medal, the Master Driver Badge, the Air Assault Badge, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Parachutist Badge, and the Special Forces Tab.
He is survived by his parents, brother and sister.
7th Special Forces Group (Airborne)
Assignment: Company B, 3rd Battalion
ODA:
18 C
Date KIA: 17 November 2013
Location: Kandahar Province, Afghanistan
Action: Hostile - IED
Staff Sgt. Alex Anthony Viola, 29, of Keller, Texas, died Nov. 17, 2013, of wounds received from an improvised explosive device in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan.
He was assigned to Company B, 3rd Battalion, 7th Special ForcesGroup (Airborne), and was deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom Afghanistan. This was Viola's first deployment during his military career.
Viola joined the Army National Guard in June 2009 as an engineer sergeant and was assigned to 1st Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne), from June 2009 to April 2010. He began his Special Forces training in April 2010 at Ft. Bragg, N.C. He graduated from Special Forces Qualification Course in June 2011, and was assigned to 1st Bn., 19th SFG (A), Camp Williams, Utah.
In March 2013 Viola was assigned to 3rd Bn., 7th SFG (A), Eglin Air force Base, Fla. He was deployed to Afghanistan with that unit when he was killed.
His military education includes U.S. Army Basic Airborne Course, Combat Lifesaver Course, the Warrior Leader Course, Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape Course, the Special Forces Qualification Course, the Advanced Leader Course and the Combat Diver Qualification Course.
Viola's awards and decorations include the Army Achievement Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Noncommissioned Officer Development Ribbon with Numeral 2, the Army Service Ribbon, the NATO Medal, the Parachutist Badge, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Special Operations Dive Badge, andthe Special Forces Tab.
He is survived by his parents and sister.
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