US Army Special Forces NCO dies in hospital in Germany

31-year-old US Army Special Forces Sgt. 1st Class James F. Grissom died on 21st March 2013 at the US Military Hospital, in Landstuhl, Germany.

Sfc. Grissom, from Hayward, California, had been transferred to the hospital after being wounded by small-arms fire during an operation in Paktika province on 18th March. This was his fifth deployment to Afghanistan.

He joined the US Army in June 2003 after attending the Art Institute of Of San Francisco, from where he earned a degree. At the time of his death, he was serving with the 4th Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne), based in Washington.

Sfc. Grissom, who leaves his wife, parents and sister, has been posthumously awarded the Bronze Star.

US Special Forces Captain Andrew Pedersen-Keel

US Army Captain Andrew M. Pedersen-Keel was one of two American soldiers killed on Monday 11th March by an Afghan policeman in Jalrez, Wardak province.

Capt. Pedersen-Keel and US Army Staff Sgt. Rex Schad were attending a joint-services meeting when an Afghan policeman opened fire on the group. Three Afghans were killed and several troops injured in the attack.

28-year-old Capt. Pedersen-Keel served with the 1st Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne), based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He graduated from the US Military Academy in 2006. In 2008, he served in Afghanistan and, at the end of that 12-month deployment, he completed the Special Forces Assessment and Selection Course and joined the 3rd Special Forces Group in 2012. He deployed to Afghanistan on this current tour late last year.

Capt. Pedersen-Keel's awards and decorations include two Bronze Star Medals, Army Commendation Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two Campaign Stars, among others.

He was repatriated to Dover Air Force Base on 12th March 2013.

US Special Forces Sergeant 1st Class Benjamin Bitner

US Army Sergeant 1st Class Benjamin F. Bitner, aged 37, from Greencastle, Pa. was killed on 23rd April 2011 in Kandahar, Afghanistan when insurgents detonated a bomb against his patrol unit.

Sgt. Bitner, who had served in the military for 18 years was with the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Throughout his military career, Sgt. Bitner had served in various hot spots around the world, including four deployments to Afghanistan.

He leaves his wife, April and sons, Gunner and Rogue.