SGM Patrick R. Hurley

21 February 1991, Saudi Arabia

USASOC

Sergeant Major Patrick R. Hurley of New Douglas, Illinois, died 21 February 1991 while supporting Operation DESERT STORM.

Hurley enlisted in the Army in 1972 as a Construction Equipment Repairer. While assigned to Company A, 27th Engineer Battalion, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, he completed the Ranger Course at Fort Benning, Georgia. In 1975, Hurley reclassified to Infantryman with assignment to Company C, 2nd Ranger Battalion, 75th Infantry, Fort Lewis, Washington, serving as an Anti-Tank Section Leader. Two years later, he volunteered for a new special operations unit at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. From 1985 to 1987, he served as the First Sergeant of Company C, 3rd Ranger Battalion, after which he returned to his previous unit. His deployments included Operations EAGLE CLAW (Iran), URGENT FURY (Grenada), and JUST CAUSE (Panama).

SGM Hurley was killed when the UH-60 medical evacuation helicopter he was aboard crashed due to adverse weather conditions in northwest Saudi Arabia. He was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, U.S. Army Special Forces Command, at the time of his death.