Fallen warriors of Army Special Operations honored, remembered

By Elvia Kelly, U.S. Army Special Operations CommandMay 26, 2023

U.S. Army Special Operations Command Commanding General, Lt. Gen. Jonathan Braga, salutes in memory of fallen Army Special Operations Soldiers at the Memorial Plaza on Fort Bragg, N.C. May 25.
1 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army Special Operations Command Commanding General, Lt. Gen. Jonathan Braga, salutes in memory of fallen Army Special Operations Soldiers at the Memorial Plaza on Fort Bragg, N.C. May 25. (Photo Credit: Photo by U.S. Army Special Operations Command Public Affairs Office) VIEW ORIGINAL
Gold Star family members gaze upon the Memorial Wall at the U.S. Army Special Operations Command Headquarters following the annual Gold Star Memorial Day Ceremony on Fort Bragg, N.C., May 25.
2 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Gold Star family members gaze upon the Memorial Wall at the U.S. Army Special Operations Command Headquarters following the annual Gold Star Memorial Day Ceremony on Fort Bragg, N.C., May 25. (Photo Credit: Photo by U.S. Army Special Operations Command Public Affairs Office) VIEW ORIGINAL
The mother of fallen Soldier Staff Sgt. Ryan C. Knauss kneels by her son’s name plate at the U.S. Army Special Operations Command Memorial Wall on Fort Bragg, N.C. May 25. USASOC invites Gold Star family members each year to the Command’s Gold Star Memorial Day Ceremony to honor the fallen.
3 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – The mother of fallen Soldier Staff Sgt. Ryan C. Knauss kneels by her son’s name plate at the U.S. Army Special Operations Command Memorial Wall on Fort Bragg, N.C. May 25. USASOC invites Gold Star family members each year to the Command’s Gold Star Memorial Day Ceremony to honor the fallen. (Photo Credit: Photo by U.S. Army Special Operations Command Public Affairs Office) VIEW ORIGINAL
A U.S. Army Special Operations officer hugs the mother of fallen soldier, Army Staff Sgt. Mark Stets Jr., assigned to 4th Psychological Operations Group (Airborne) May 25, on Fort Bragg, N.C.
4 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A U.S. Army Special Operations officer hugs the mother of fallen soldier, Army Staff Sgt. Mark Stets Jr., assigned to 4th Psychological Operations Group (Airborne) May 25, on Fort Bragg, N.C. (Photo Credit: Photo by U.S. Army Special Operations Command Public Affairs Office) VIEW ORIGINAL
Spc. John Pelham (right) was killed in action on Feb. 12, 2014, in Kapisa Province, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. His name is etched on the Memorial Wall at U.S. Army Special Operations Command Headquarters.
5 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Spc. John Pelham (right) was killed in action on Feb. 12, 2014, in Kapisa Province, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. His name is etched on the Memorial Wall at U.S. Army Special Operations Command Headquarters. (Photo Credit: Photo provided by Wendall Pelham, Gold Star father of Spc. John Pelham) VIEW ORIGINAL
Spc. John Pelham was killed in action on Feb. 12, 2014, in Kapisa Province, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. His name is etched on the Memorial Wall at U.S. Army Special Operations Command Headquarters.
6 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Spc. John Pelham was killed in action on Feb. 12, 2014, in Kapisa Province, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. His name is etched on the Memorial Wall at U.S. Army Special Operations Command Headquarters. (Photo Credit: Photo provided by Wendall Pelham, Gold Star father of Spc. John Pelham) VIEW ORIGINAL
Spc. John Pelham was killed in action on Feb. 12, 2014, in Kapisa Province, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. His name is etched on the Memorial Wall at U.S. Army Special Operations Command Headquarters.
7 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Spc. John Pelham was killed in action on Feb. 12, 2014, in Kapisa Province, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. His name is etched on the Memorial Wall at U.S. Army Special Operations Command Headquarters. (Photo Credit: Photo provided by Wendall Pelham, Gold Star father of Spc. John Pelham) VIEW ORIGINAL
Spc. John Pelham was killed in action on Feb. 12, 2014, in Kapisa Province, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. His name is etched on the Memorial Wall at U.S. Army Special Operations Command Headquarters.
8 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Spc. John Pelham was killed in action on Feb. 12, 2014, in Kapisa Province, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. His name is etched on the Memorial Wall at U.S. Army Special Operations Command Headquarters. (Photo Credit: Courtesy Photo) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT BRAGG, N.C. – Etched on the Memorial Wall at the U.S. Army Special Operations Command Headquarters are the names of 1,242 fallen Army Special Operations warriors who paid the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country.

USASOC honored their legacy during a Gold Star Memorial Ceremony held on the Memorial Plaza surrounded by Gold Star families, friends, and guests who traveled from across the Nation to attend the ceremony on Fort Bragg, N.C., May 25.

“Thanks for being here on this solemn but important day,” said Lt. Gen. Jonathan Braga, USASOC commanding general. “We remember the 1,242 names on this wall, heroes who have fallen in support of this great nation. I’m especially pleased to welcome our most honored guests – our Special Operations Gold Star family members.”

Braga added he is “extremely thankful that we do not have to add a name to the Memorial Wall this year.”

U.S. Army Special Operations forces have been involved in virtually all U.S. conflicts since World War II, performing direct action and unconventional warfare missions. They have repeatedly performed some of the most dangerous and important missions to ensure our victories.

“This is the longest period of time we have experienced without losing an ARSOF soldier in combat since Sept. 11, 2001,” Braga said. “Since that foreboding day, we face the death of 377 men and women of Army Special Operations whose names are on this wall. Many of the family members are here today, and they’re interwoven in that history.”

For Gold Star father Wendall Pelham, memorial ceremonies are reminders to reflect daily on the legacy of our fallen heroes.

“I’m beyond honored, as we have these conversations, the message that we’re sending is that America is the greatest country on the planet period,” Pelham said. “That our history is our history, those who have fought and died for our country need to be honored and need to be recognized and their legacies never, ever, ever should be forgotten.”

Pelham’s son, Spc. John Pelham, was killed in action on Feb. 12, 2014, in Kapisa Province, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

“The reason we come back year after year is to share with folks like yourselves and your viewers at home that freedom is not free and the cost is exorbitant, and it's massive and it's not financial but it's human,” he said. “Every day, I wake up with the intention to make my son proud of his father.”

The ceremony concluded with each ARSOF unit laying a wreath in front of the Memorial Wall, Taps, and a moment of silence to reflect on those who paid the ultimate price.