SSG Christopher M. Falkel
RELEASE NUMBER: 050810-01
DATE POSTED: AUGUST 10, 2005
Quote:
Special Forces Soldier dies in Afghanistan
U.S. Army Special Operations Command
FORT BRAGG, N.C. (USASOC News Service, Aug. 10, 2005) — An Army Special Forces Soldier died Aug. 8 in southeastern Afghanistan.
Staff Sgt. Christopher M. Falkel, a weapons sergeant assigned to 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) based here, died in Deh Afghan, Afghanistan, when his unit was conducting combat operations and they were engaged by enemy forces using small arms fire. He was deployed to the area in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
Falken was born Sept. 29, 1982 in Massachusetts, and joined the Army to in October 2001, as an infantryman wanting to become a Special Forces Soldier.
He attended basic training, advanced individual training and basic airborne training at Fort Benning, Ga. In May 2002, he moved to Fort Bragg, N.C., and was assigned to the 1st Special Warfare Training Group, where he began training to become a Special Forces weapons sergeant. Falkel attended the Special Forces Arabic Language Course and the Special Forces Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape Course. He graduated from the Special Forces Qualification Course in June 2003.
Upon graduation, Falkel was then assigned to the 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Bragg, N.C., where he was deployed overseas in June 2005 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
His military awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal with Valor device, the Purple Heart, the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the NCO Professional Development Ribbon, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Basic Parachutist Badge and the Special Forces Tab.
His parents, Jeffery and Dianne Falkel, of Highlands Ranch, Colo., survive him.
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