CPT John Tinsley

12 August 2009, Afghanistan

Special Forces

A native of New Jersey, Captain John Tinsley was killed on 12 August 2009 in Oruzgan Province, Afghanistan, by an improvised explosive device. He was supporting Operation ENDURING FREEDOM.

After graduating from Florida State University, Tinsley was commissioned as an Infantry officer in August 2002 and assigned to 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, Fort Carson, Colorado. In 2004, he was assigned to 1st Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment, the “Old Guard,” Fort Myer, Virginia. In January 2009, he graduated from the Special Forces Qualification Course, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

CPT Tinsley was serving as a Detachment Commander in 2nd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, when he was killed. This was his third combat deployment.