SSG Ayman Taha

[Dan]

RELEASE NUMBER: 060103-01
DATE POSTED: JANUARY 3, 2006

PRESS RELEASE: Special Forces Soldier dies in Iraq
U.S. Army Special Operations Command

FORT BRAGG, N.C. (USASOC News Service, Jan. 3, 2006) - An Army Special Forces Soldier died while conducting a combat raid in the vicinity of Balad, Iraq, when an enemy munitions cache exploded while being prepared for demolition.

Staff Sgt. Ayman A. Taha, 31, a Special Forces Engineer noncommissioned officer assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 5th Special Forces Group, Fort Campbell, Ky., died Dec. 30 in an explosion while he was preparing to destroy enemy munitions discovered during combat operations in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Born in Sudan and residing in Clarksville, Tennessee, Taha entered the Army in 2002 and attended basic Infantry training and Basic Airborne School at Fort Benning, Ga. In 2003, he began training at Fort

Bragg, N.C., where he completed the Special Forces Engineer Sergeant’s Course and earned his Green Beret. In Jan 2005, Taha was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 5th Special Forces Group at Fort Campbell, Ky., as a member of a Special Forces Operational Detachment-A or A-Team.

He deployed with 5th Special Forces Group to Iraq in support of OIF this past summer.

His awards included the National Defense Service Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon with Numeral Two Device, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Parachutists Badge, and the Special Forces Tab.

His posthumous awards include the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, The Meritorious Service Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal and the Combat Infantryman Badge.

Born in Sudan, Taha was a native Arabic speaker and entered the Army under the 18X program. This program allows selected individuals to enlist directly for Special Forces Training as a result of preexisting unique skills.

Taha’s civilian education consisted of a Bachelors of Science in Economics from the University of California at Berkeley, and a Masters in Economics from the University of Massachusetts.

Taha is survived by his wife, Geraldine and his daughter, Sommer of Clarksville, Tenn. He is also survived by his parents, Abdel-Rahman and Amal Ali of Va.

-usasoc-