SFC James F. Grissom

21 March 2013, Afghanistan

Special Forces

A native of Hayward, California, Sergeant First Class James F. Grissom died 21 March 2013, of wounds sustained from enemy small arms fire while his unit was conducting combat operations in Paktika Province, Afghanistan, in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM.

Grissom enlisted in the Army as a Special Forces Candidate in June 2003. After completing his Basic Combat Training and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Benning, Georgia, he was assigned to the 1st Special Warfare Training Group, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

SFC Grissom graduated from the Special Forces Qualification Course in October 2005 and was assigned as a Special Forces Engineer Sergeant to 2nd Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. In 2012 he was reassigned to 4th Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group where he served until his death.