RELEASE NUMBER: 080422-01
DATE POSTED: APRIL 22, 2008

MEDIA ADVISORY: 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) Soldier to receive Distinguished Service Cross

7th Special Forces Group Public Affairs Office

FORT BRAGG, N.C. (USASOC News Service, April 22, 2008) – A 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) Soldier will be awarded the Distinguished Service Cross during a valorous award presentation ceremony April 30 at Fort Bragg, N.C.

The ceremony will take place at 4 p.m., at Bank Hall Auditorium, Room 275.

The recipient, Master Sgt. Brendan O’Connor, is being awarded the DSC for valorous actions during an engagement with a numerically superior enemy force in Afghanistan in 2006.

The Distinguished Service Cross is the Army’s second highest award for combat valor and is awarded for gallantry in action against an enemy of the United States during military operations. This will be the second DSC to be awarded for actions in Afghanistan since the beginning of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Admiral Eric T. Olson, commander of United States Special Operations Command and Lt. Gen. Robert W. Wagner, Commanding General of the U.S. Army Special Operations Command, will preside over the ceremony and present the awards.

For O’Connor’s photo, click here.

For O’Connor’s bio, click here.

FOR THE MEDIA:  Media wishing to cover the ceremony must contact CPT Chris Colster, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) at (910) 303-0930 or e-mail christopher.colster@ahqb.soc.mil .  After hours, please call 910-432-6005. Media should provide after-hours contact information, to include e-mail addresses, so we may keep you advised of any changes to the program schedule.

Master Sgt. O’Connor will be available for interviews following the ceremony for media who have properly coordinated with the 7th SFG(A) PAO.

Members of the media who wish to cover the ceremony must register with the 7th SFG(A)  PAO by April 28 at 5 p.m.  Please provide the number of news team members, video/still photographers, live trucks and other special equipment you plan to bring to the ceremony.  Media planning live coverage during or after the program must provide that information to the 7th SFG(A) PAO when responding to this invitation.  Special needs or interview requests should be submitted at this time as well.

Media should meet representatives of 7th SFG(A) PAO at 1 p.m. on April 30 at Stryker Golf Course on Bragg Boulevard.  The media convoy will depart Stryker no later than 1:30 p.m.  7th SFG(A) PAO representatives will also escort media uplink trucks in that convoy.

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