Freedom Remembered

Staff Sgt. Girard D. Gass Jr., of Lumber Bridge, North Carolina, died Aug. 3, in Jalalabad Air Field Hospital, Afghanistan, from a non-combat related incident while on patrol that occurred in Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group, Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Jerry enlisted in the Army in August of 2008 under the Special Forces Enlistment Option. Upon completion of Army Basic Combat and Advanced Individual Training, the Army Basic Airborne Course and the Special Forces Qualification Course, he reported to 3rd SFG (A) as a Special Forces medical sergeant in August 2011. His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Army Commendation Medal with “V” device, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal (second award) and National Defense Service Medal. Gass was posthumously awarded his second Bronze Star Medal and the Meritorious Service Medal. He was also awarded the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with one campaign star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon (numeral 2), Parachutist Badge, Combat Infantryman Badge, and the Special Forces Tab. Beaufort National Cemetery in South Carolina - Sec 18 Site 77A