RELEASE NUMBER: 090525-01
DATE POSTED: MAY 25, 2009

MEDIA ADVISORY: USASOC to remember fallen Soldiers, May 28

USASOC Public Affairs Office

FORT BRAGG, N.C. (USASOC News Service, May 25, 2009) – Twenty-four Army Special Operations Forces Soldiers who were killed while supporting combat operations during the past year will be honored, May 28, 2 p.m., when their names are added to the U.S. Army Special Operations Command Memorial Wall.

The annual Soldier Memorial Ceremony, hosted by Lt. Gen. John F. Mulholland, commanding general of USASOC, will be held on the Army Special Operations Command Memorial Plaza adjacent to the USASOC headquarters building.
More than 150 family members from across the U.S. will attend the ceremony.

After the Memorial Wall is unveiled, the names those who died during current combat operations will be read. They are:

1st Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Lewis, Wash.

Staff Sgt. Joseph F. Curreri, of Baltimore, Md., was assigned to 2nd Battalion.
Staff Sgt. David W. Textor, from Jamestown, N.Y., was assigned to 3rd  Battalion.
Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Tully, from Pennsylvania, was assigned to 2nd Battalion.

                        3rd Special Forces Group (A), Fort Bragg, N.C.

Staff Sgt. Jeremy E. Bessa, of Honolulu, was assigned to 1st  Battalion.
Master Sgt. David L. Hurt, of Oak Park, Ill., was assigned to 1st  Battalion.
Sgt. Nicholas A. Robertson was assigned to 3rd Battalion.

Staff Sgt. Marc J. Small, of Collegeville, Penn., was assigned to 1st Battalion.
                        5th Special Forces Group (A), Fort Campbell, Ky.

Staff Sgt. Jason L. Brown, of Magnolia, Texas, was assigned to 3rd  Battalion.
Staff Sgt. Ryan D. Maseth, of Pittsburgh, Penn., was assigned to 1st Battalion.

                        7th Special Forces Group (A), Fort Bragg

Staff Sgt. John C. Brite, of Shreveport, La., was assigned to 3rd Battalion.
Sgt. Nicholas A. Casey, of Canton, Ohio, was assigned to 3rd Battalion.
Capt. Richard G. Cliff Jr., of Mount Pleasant, S.C., was assigned to 1st  Battalion.
Staff Sgt. Travis K. Hunsberger, of Goshen, Ind., was assigned to 1st Battalion.
Sgt. 1st Class Jamie S. Nicholas, of Maysel, W. Va., was assigned to 1st Battalion.
Sgt. 1st Class David Nunez, from Mexico, was assigned to 3rd  Battalion.
Sgt. 1st Class Jeffrey M. Radamorles, of Naranjito, Puerto Rico, was assigned to 1st Battalion.
Master Sgt. Shawn E. Simmons, of Ashland, Mass., was assigned to 1st  Battalion.
Sgt. James M. Treber, of San Diego, Calif., was assigned to 1st Battalion.
Staff Sgt. Joshua R. Whitaker, of Long Beach, Calif., was assigned to 1st Battalion.
Master Sgt. Mitchell W. Young, of Jonesboro, Ga., was assigned to 1st  Battalion.
Sgt. 1st Class Gary J. Vasquez, of Round Lake, Ill., was assigned to 1st Battalion.

                        10th Special Forces Group (A), Fort Carson, Colo.

Staff Sgt. Frank J. Gasper, of Merced, Calif., was assigned to 3rd Battalion.
Staff Sgt. Robert R. Pirelli, of Franklin, Mass., was assigned to 3rd Battalion.

                                    95th Civil Affairs Brigade (A), Fort Bragg

Major Robert D. Lindenau, of Seattle, Wash., was assigned to the 91st Civil Affairs Battalion.

1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Hunter Army Air Field, Ga.

Staff Sgt. Anthony D. Davis, of Daytona Beach, Fla., was assigned to 1st Battalion.

2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Fort Lewis, Wash.

Sgt. 1st Class David L. McDowell, of Ramona, Calif., was assigned to 2nd Battalion.
Spc. Thomas F. Duncan III, of Rowlett, Texas, was assigned to 2nd Battalion.
Spc. Christopher Gathercole, of Santa Rosa, Calif., was assigned to 2nd Battalion.

3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Fort Benning, Ga.

Cpl. Benjamin C. Dillon of Rootstown, Ohio was assigned to 3rd Battalion.
Sgt. William P. Rudd was assigned to 3rd Battalion.

160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, Fort Campbell, Ky. 

Chief Warrant Officer Hershel D. McCants Jr., of Medford, Ore., was assigned to 2nd Battalion.
Chief Warrant Officer John A. Quinlan, of Morristown, N.J., was assigned to 2nd Battalion
Chief Warrant Officer Jamie D. Weeks, was from Daleville, Ala.
Spc. Travis R. Vaughn, of Waterloo, Ia., was assigned to 2nd Battalion.

U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command, Fort Bragg

Capt. Shane R. Mahaffee, of Alexandria, Va., was assigned to the 489th Civil Affairs Battalion.
Staff Sgt. Robert J. Paul, of Dalles, Ore., was assigned to the 364th Civil Affairs Battalion.

Families of three Soldiers who could not attend last year when their loved one was honored, will attend the ceremony.

The public is invited to attend.

NOTE TO NEWS MEDIA: News media interested in covering the ceremony should contact USASOC Public Affairs Office at (910) 432-6005, or e-mail pao@soc.mil.  Media should provide a list of representatives covering the event along with after-hours contact information to include e-mail addresses, so we may keep you advised of changes to the program schedule.

Members of the media who wish to cover the ceremony must register with USASOC PAO by May 27 before 4 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 USASOC PAO when responding to this invitation.  Special needs or interview requests should be submitted at this time as well.  There is no inclement weather plan.  The ceremony will be conducted on the Plaza regardless of weather.

Media should meet representatives of USASOC PAO at Stryker Golf Course on Bragg Boulevard at noon on May 28. 

The media convoy will depart Stryker no later than noon due to the heavy traffic associated with that time of the day. USASOC PAO will also escort live trucks in that convoy.

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