RELEASE NUMBER: 081001-02
DATE POSTED: OCTOBER 1, 2008

PRESS RELEASE: Special Forces Soldiers killed in action

U.S. Army Special Forces Command Public Affairs Office

FORT BRAGG, N.C. (USASOC News Service, Oct. 1, 2008) — Three Army Special Forces Soldiers died Sept. 29 of wounds sustained during combat operations in the vicinity of Yakhchal, Helmand Province, Afghanistan. 

The following Soldiers, all assigned to Company B, 1st Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Bragg, N.C., died when their High-Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) struck an enemy Improvised Explosive Device:

Capt. Richard G. Cliff, Jr., 29,of Mount Pleasant, S.C., was a Special Forces Operational Detachment-Alpha team commander.

Sgt. 1st Class Jamie S. Nicholas, 32, of Maysel, W.Va., was a Special Forces Operational Detachment-Alpha senior weapons sergeant.

Sgt. 1st Class Gary J. Vasquez, 33, of Round Lake, Ill., was a Special Forces Operational Detachment-Alpha senior engineer sergeant.

Cliff is survived by his wife, Stacy, and son, Richard, of Sanford, N.C.; mother Julie Cliff, father Richard Cliff, Sr., both of Mount Pleasant, S.C and brother, Eddie Cliff.

Nicholas is survived by his wife, Michelle, stepson, Brenton Troup and stepdaughter, Sharise Troup, of Hope Mills, N.C.; mother Karen Nicholas, and father Burke Nicholas, both of Wallback, W.Va.

Vasquez is survived by his wife, Sarah, of Raeford, N.C.; mother, Margaret Du Hasek, sister Keely Vasquez, and brother, Barry Du Hasek, both of Highland, Ill.

For further information, media should contact the Special Forces Command Public Affairs Office during duty hours at 910-432-2269 or after duty hours at 910-689-6187.

For Capt. Cliff's bio, click here....

For SFC Nicholas' bio, click here....

For SFC Vasquez's bio, click here....

--usasoc--

	Capt. Richard G. Cliff, Jr., died Sept. 29 of wounds sustained during combat operations in the vicinity of Yakhchal, Helmand Province, Afghanistan. (U.S. Army photo)
	Sgt. 1st Class Gary J. Vasquez died Sept. 29 of wounds sustained during combat operations in the vicinity of Yakhchal, Helmand Province, Afghanistan. (U.S. Army photo)