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Army Staff Sgt. Christopher M. Falkel

Died August 8, 2005 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom


22, of Highlands Ranch, Colo.; assigned to the 1st Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group, Fort Bragg, N.C.; killed Aug. 8 by enemy small-arms fire as his unit was conducting combat operations in Deh Afghan, Afghanistan.


Biography of a fallen hero – Staff Sgt. Christopher M. Falkel

By Jeff Falkel

Chris was born on September 24, 1982 in Boston, Mass. He lived in Athens, Ohio from 1984 to 1990 – we then moved to Littleton, Colo. Chris attended Northridge Elementary School, Cresthill Middle School and graduated from ThunderRidge High School in 2001.

Chris enlisted in the Army on October 25, 2001. He was stationed at Fort Benning, Ga., for his basic training and his Advanced Infantry Training (AIT). He graduated AIT in March, 2002. He went on to attend Airborne School at Fort Benning before being assigned to Fort Bragg, N.C., where he was a member of the fourth class of the Special Operations Preparatory Course.

In June 2002, he completed the Special Forces Assessment and Selection course and assigned to the Special Forces Qualification Course. He graduated May 21, 2003. After finishing his Arabic Language course and SERE training, he was assigned to Operational Detachment, Alpha 316, Company A, 1st Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) as a weapons sergeant (18B).

He was promoted to staff sergeant on November 1, 2004. His schooling in Special Forces included Blackwater Combat Marksmanship Course, Gryphon Group Force Protection Course, Mid-South Self Defense Institute, SFARTAETC and his favorite course – the one he was most proud of – Special Operations Target Interdiction Course.

His first overseas deployment came in February, 2004 to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. His second deployment was also to Afghanistan in June, 2005 and he was killed in action there on August 8, 2005. He was later buried at Arlington National Cemetery on August 22, 2005.

Staff Sgt. Christopher M. Falkel’s awards include: the Silver Star, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Combat Infantry Badge, Parachutist Badge, and Special Forces Tab.