SSG Christopher Falkel, 22, of Highlands Ranch, Colorado, died on August 8, 2005, in Deh Afghan, Afghanistan, when his unit was conducting combat operations and was engaged by enemy forces using small arms fire.  Falkel was assigned to 1st Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

He enlisted in the Army in October of 2001.  He attended basic training, advanced individual training and basic airborne training at Fort Benning, Georgia.  In May 2002, he moved to Fort Bragg, N.C., and was assigned to the 1st Special Warfare Training Group, where he began training to become a Special Forces weapons sergeant.  Falkel attended the Special Forces Arabic Language Course and the Special Forces Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape Course.  He graduated from the Special Forces Qualification Course in June 2003.

His military awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal with Valor device, the Purple Heart, the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the NCO Professional Development Ribbon, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Basic Parachutist Badge and the Special Forces Tab.

He was serving his second tour in Afghanistan.  He is survived by his parents who live in Colorado.

Memorials to Christopher Falkel.

Fallen Heroes of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Legacy Guest Book for Christopher Falkel.

News Articles About SSG Falkel.

August 10, 2005.  "DoD Identifies Army Casualty".  DoD News Release.

August 10, 2005.  "Special Forces Soldier dies in Afghanistan".  USASOC News Service.

August 10, 2005.  "Colorado Green Beret Dies In Afghanistan Firefight".  The Denver Channel.

August 11, 2005.  "Fort Bragg soldier killed in Afghanistan".  The News & Observer.

August 11, 2005.  "Birthday call home was soldier's last".  FortBraggNC.com.

August 12, 2005.  "Grieving father calls soldier "my warrior . . . my hero . . . my son"".  Denver Post.
 

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