Special Forces Association Chapter 7 on LinkedIn: Winning the First Fight: Experimenting with Army Special Operations… (2024)

Today we remember, Staff Sgt Jesse G. Clowers, Jr., was killed in action on August 12, 2007 near Bar Kalakney Village, Khogyani District, Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan, while serving with ODA 741, Company A, 2nd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne).Clowers, 27, was a Special Forces communications sergeant assigned to ODA 741, Company A, 2nd Bn., 7th SFG(A), Fort Bragg, NC. Clowers, of Lebanon, Va., enlisted as an infantryman in June 2004. He served as an infantryman at Fort Benning, Ga., upon his enlistment until 2006. He later attended the Special Forces Qualification Course, graduating in 2006 and was assigned as a communications sergeant with Co A, 2/7th SFG (A). Clowers’ military education include; the Basic Airborne Course, the Warrior Leaders Course, the Basic Noncommissioned Officer’s Course, Special Forces Qualification Course, the Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape Course, and the Spanish Basic Military Language Course.His awards and decorations include the Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Parachutist Badge, and the Special Forces Tab.He was survived by his wife, Katherine, son Jesse, and daughter Danielle of Fayetteville, N.C.; mother Joyce of Roanoke, Va.; and sister Angela of Herndon, Va.- DE OPPRESSO LIBER -

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Today we remember, Capt. John Tinsley, 28, was killed Aug. 12, 2009, while conducting a mounted patrol in the Oruzgan Province, Afghanistan, in support of combat operations while serving with Company B, 2nd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne).He deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in July 2009 as a member of the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force – Afghanistan. This was his third deployment in support of the Global War on Terror and first deployment to Afghanistan. He was a Special Forces Operational Detachment- Alpha team commander.Tinsley was a native of New Jersey, and was commissioned in August 2002 after graduation from Florida State University, Tallahassee, Fla. He was assigned to the 1st Bn., 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division at Fort Carson, Colo. He was then later assigned to the 1st Bn., 3rd Infantry Regt., at Fort Myer, Va. as a member of the “Old Guard” in 2004. In 2006 he was deployed to Iraq as a member of Multi-National Corps-Iraq. He began the Special Forces Qualifications Course January 2007 and earning the coveted “Green Beret” in January 2009.Tinsley’s military education includes the Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle Commander’s Course, Infantry Officer Basic Course, Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape Course, Basic Airborne Course, Ranger Course, and Special Forces Qualification Course.His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medals, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, Parachutist Badge, Ranger Tab and the Special Forces Tab.Tinsley was survived by his wife, Emily, and daughter, Isabella, of Fayetteville, N.C.; mother Debra, and father John Tinsley, of Jacksonville, Fla.– DE OPPRESSO LIBER –

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Today we remember, Sgt. 1st Class Jeffrey D. Kettle was killed in action on August 12, 2007, near Bar Kalakney Village, Khogyani District, Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan, while serving with ODA 741, A Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne).Kettle, 31, was a Special Forces engineer sergeant assigned to ODA 741, Company A, 2nd Bn., 7th SFG(A), Fort Bragg, NC.Kettle, of Texas City, TX, enlisted as an infantryman in September 1993. He served as an infantryman in Hawaii in 1994. He then served with the 1 st Bn., 503 rd Airborne Infantry at Caserma Ederle, Italy in 1995. After serving six years at Fort Benning, Ga., in various positions Kettle was assigned to here to 3rd Bn., 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division. He attended the Special Forces Qualification Course, graduating in 2006 and was assigned as an engineer sergeant with A Co, 2/7th SFG (A).He spent one tour of duty in Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) in 2003 and had recently begun his second tour of duty in Afghanistan with A Co, 2/7th SFG(A) in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF).Kettle’s military education includes; the Basic Airborne Course, the Air Assault Course, the Ranger Course, the Warrior Leaders Course, the Basic Noncommissioned Officer’s Course, the Combat Lifesaver Course, Special Forces Qualification Course, the Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape Course, the Parachutist Jumpmasters Course and the Advanced Noncommissioned Officer’s Course.His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Valorous Unit Award, Army Superior Unit Award, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Combat Infantry Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge, Ranger and Special Forces Tabs.He was survived by his wife, Brandi, and sons Jeffrey and Logan of Raeford, NC; and parents Ronald and Cynthia of League City, Texas.- DE OPPRESSO LIBER -

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The SFA CH7 will have a morning breakfast on the 17th of August!When:Saturday, August 17th, 8:00 AMWhere: Stinky’s Bait Shack,5994 West County Rd 30A, Santa Rosa Beach, FlWho:Open to all SF Community members, family and friends.What:Morning BreakfastWhy:Build rapport and foster camaraderie, socialize, garner information relevant to our SF community.Hope to see you all there!

Today, August 7 marks National Purple Heart Day, a day dedicated to honoring Service Members who have been wounded in action.More than 1.8 million Purple Heart medals have been presented to service members since the award was created in 1782, according to the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor website.The Purple Heart is America’s oldest medal and it continues to be a symbol of honor, heroism, Sacrifice, and patriotism.

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Today we remember, 1st Sgt. Peter A. "Drew" McKenna was a native of Bristol, Rhode Island. He first entered the U.S. Army in 1998 as an Infantryman.Upon completion of basic training at Ft. Benning, George, in November 1998, he was assigned to 4-31 Infantry at Ft Drum, New York. In 2000 he attended Special Forces Assessment and Selection and was assigned to 1st Special Warfare Training Group to attend the Special Forces Qualification Course as a communications sergeant.Upon graduation of the Special Forces Qualification Course he was assigned to C Company, 1st Battalion 7th SFG (Airborne) until December of 2007 when he was assigned to C Co 3rd Bn 7th SFG (A) as a communications sergeant. Then in February of 2012 he was assigned to A Co 1st Bn 7th SFG (A) as a Team Sergeant. Upon completion of his Team Sergeant time, McKenna volunteered and was selected for duty as the First Sergeant for the Special Operations Joint Task Forces - Afghanistan.McKenna’s formal military education includes: Infantry One Station Unit Training, Basic Airborne Course, Air Assault course, Special Forces Assessment and Selection, the Warrior Leaders Course, the Advanced Leaders Course, the Senior Leaders Course, the Special Forces Qualification Course, Special Forces Communications Sergeant’s Course, the Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape course, Special Forces Advanced Urban Combat Course, the Infantry Mortar Leader Course, Special Forces Advanced Reconnaissance, Target Analysis, and Exploitation Techniques Course, Jumpmaster, Military Freefall Parachutist Course, and Military Freefall Parachutist Jumpmaster Course. Additionally, McKenna earned a Bachelor's Degree in Strategic Studies for Norwich University in 2015.McKenna’s awards and decorations include: the Silver Star, the Bronze Star Medal for Valor, the Bronze Star Medal fourth award, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Purple Heart, the Army Commendation Medal second award, and the Army Achievement Medal. the National Defense Service Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal fifth award, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the NATO Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, and the NCO Professional Development Ribbon third award.. He also earned the Master Parachutist badge, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Air Assault badge, the Freefall Parachutist Jumpmaster badge and the Special Forces tab.He was survived by his mother Carol and his father Peter.- DE OPPRESSO LIBER -#LoQueSea | #CuandoSea | #DondeSea | #StrongerTogether | #AlwaysReady | #PeopleFirst | #Agile | #Lethal | #CombatReady | #estrellaaustral23US Army | #DepartmentofDefense(DoD) | 1st Special Forces Command (Airborne) - US Army | @U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) | United States Army Special Operations Command | @United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) | GoArmy | Special Forces Association Chapter 7 | Eglin Air Force Base

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*** REMINDER ***Come out to the SFA CHVIIMonthly Member Meeting (non-members welcome!)6:00pm, 8 August 2024American Legion Post 221444 John Sims Pkwy, Niceville, FL 32578- Chapter Updates – Upcoming Events – Camaraderie -- JBJ Kickoff- Elections

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7thSFG(A) and SFA CHVII local members and families,1stBattalion will hold a memorial for 1SG Peter McKenna of SFOD-A 7116 at 0930hrs on Wednesday, 07 AUG 2023 (KIA 07 AUG 2015) at the 1stBattalion Rock Garden.Everyone is invited to attend, DoD ID card required for base access.WHO:1stBN, 7thSFG(A)WHAT:Conducts Rock Garden Memorial for 1SG Peter McKenna of SFOD-A 7116WHEN:0930hrs on Wednesday, 07 AUG 2023WHERE:1stBN Rock GardenWHY:IOT Honor our legacy **Note – If you would like to speak at this event please contact 1SG Makepeace by COB Tuesday, 6 AUG 2023 at 423-488-6357**

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Come out to the SFA CHVIIMonthly Member Meeting (non-members welcome!)6:00pm, 8 August 2024American Legion Post 221444 John Sims Pkwy, Niceville, FL 32578- Chapter Updates – Upcoming Events – Camaraderie -- JBJ Kickoff

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