SSG Orlando Morales

29 March 2003, Afghanistan

Special Forces

A native of Orocovis, Puerto Rico, Staff Sergeant Orlando Morales died on 29 March 2003 of wounds sustained during an ambush on his mounted reconnaissance patrol in Geresk, Afghanistan.

Morales enlisted in the Army in 1996 as an Infantryman and completed Basic Combat Training and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Benning, Georgia. In November 2002 he graduated from the Special Forces Qualification Course and joined 2nd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

SSG Morales was serving as a Weapons Sergeant in 2nd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group, in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM at the time of his death.