A decorated Army green beret was killed in combat in Afghanistan, officials have announced.
Jeremy W. Griffin, 40, was deployed to Wardak Province in support of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel when he died on Monday.
The Greenbrier, Tennessee, resident held the rank of Sergeant First Class and was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart for his service, according to a US Army Special Operations Command press release.
Griffin was an accomplished airborne ranger in the 1st Special Forces Group. He had previously deployed with the 82nd Airborne Division to Iraq in 2006 and Afghanistan in 2009 – and had served in the airborne 7th Special Forces Group.
“He was a warrior – an accomplished, respected and loved Special Forces Soldier that will never be forgotten,” commander Col. Owen G. Ray said in a statement. “We ask that you keep his Family and teammates in your thoughts and prayers.”
Griffin, born in Panama, joined the Army in 2004 and was on his fourth combat deployment.
“[He] was a great Soldier and even greater husband and father who is survived by his wonderful wife, Amy, his son Charles ‘Chip,’ and his daughter Makayla,” according to a GoFundMe made in his name. “Jeremy and Amy had just celebrated 19 years of marriage prior to his deployment to Afghanistan.”
The American Legion in Greenbrier, flew the flag at half-staff in his honor, Fox 17 reported.