SSG Alex A. Viola

17 November 2013, Afghanistan

Special Forces

A native of Keller, Texas, Staff Sergeant Alex A. Viola died 17 November 2013, of wounds sustained from the detonation of an improvised explosive device while his unit was conducting combat operations in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan, in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM.

Viola enlisted in the United States Army National Guard in June 2009. He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group, Camp Williams, Utah.

SSG Viola graduated from the Special Forces Qualification Course in June 2011 and was assigned as a Special Forces Engineer Sergeant to 1st Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group. In March 2013, he was mobilized on active duty and assigned to 3rd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, where he served until his death.