Green Beret killed in Afghanistan: RIP SSG Aaron Butler

The Defense Department on Thursday night released the name of the soldier who was killed this week in Afghanistan. Staff Sgt. Aaron Butler, 27, died Wednesday in Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan, from wounds he suffered when an improvised explosive device exploded during combat operations.

Butler, of Monticello, Utah, was a Special Forces soldier assigned to the Utah National Guard’s B Company, 1st Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group. Butler had been a member of the Utah Guard since 2008. He deployed to Afghanistan in April. “Ultimately, what we do is very dangerous business,” said Maj. Gen. Jeff Burton, Utah’s adjutant general, in a statement. “Our hearts are broken when we lose one of our own. We know these people personally, they are our friends, we respect them and it’s very painful.”

The Green Berets from 1st Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group who are deployed to Afghanistan were on a mission alongside Afghan forces to reduce the presence of ISIS-Khorasan fighters in the country. ISIS- Khorasan is an offshoot of the Islamic State terror group.

On Wednesday, Butler was killed and 11 others were wounded while clearing a building. Initial reports indicate the building was wired with explosives, and the soldiers were struck upon entry, according to the Utah Guard. Butler was a Special Forces engineer noncommissioned officer. On the teams they are called "the Demo Sergeant".

He joined the Army in April 2008, and after training was assigned to C Company, 1457th Engineer Battalion in Blanding, Utah, according to bio information released by the Guard. In June 2015, Butler transferred to 1st Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group. He arrived at the battalion’s B Company in June 2016. He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart.

God Speed Brother. You will be well received by our brothers who have gone before you.

This brings the number of U.S. troops killed in Afghanistan this year to 11, the same number as were killed in all of 2016 in Afghanistan.

Article from the Army Times

Green Berets Complete Fallen Brother’s Promise to His Step-Daughter

SSgt Mark De Alencar promised his step-daughter Octavia Osborne that he would be back from his deployment in time for her graduation from Niceville High School. Unfortunately, he was killed before he could fulfill that promise. But the Green Berets of De Alencar’s 7th Special Forces Group made sure that promise was handled.

De Alencar had asked the 17 year old to look after her mother and younger siblings until he got home. “He told me he’d be back in time for my graduation from Niceville High School. He promised.” remembered Octavia.

But his brothers-in-arms from the 7th weren’t about to let this young lady down. An Army care team asked her mother if there would be room for some representatives of the group to attend her graduation. “How many?” asked Natasha, Octavia’s mom. “About 80.” was the Army’s response. WHOA! The reality of that many of her father’s friends didn’t really sink in for her.

“It dawned on me here and there that they were going to be there, but it didn’t really hit me until I got to the graduation and saw all those men sitting there in the stands.” Octavia recounted. The contingent from the 7th Group included not only the Green Berets in their dress uniforms, but many of their spouses and children as well. When Natasha and her mother, Yolanda Thornton, arrived at the stadium, Octavia’s special cheering section was already in place.

“They were saving seats for us!” Natasha said, her voice still filled with amazement at the memory. “I was overwhelmed. Everyone who was there had taken time out of their busy lives because they knew we had that void we were missing. They just wanted to let us know that they had our back.”

The men did more than just save seats or show up…they were there for meaningful support.

“I thought since they were servicemen, they’d be really quiet and just kind of be there. But when my name was called and you heard this uproar from the stadium, it caught me off guard. I didn’t know if I should be embarrassed, starstruck or what. But it was really like an exciting rush.” Octavia said.

This young lady worked hard to make excellent grades so that she wouldn’t let her parents down. But having her very own cheering section full of Green Berets in full dress uniform -plus families- is something she will remember the rest of her life. Best Wishes, Octavia!

Article from the Northwest Florida Daily News.