SSG Girard D. Gass, Jr.

3 August 2014, Afghanistan

Special Forces

Born in Charleston, South Carolina, Staff Sergeant Girard D. Gass, Jr. died 3 August 2014, of a heart attack while his unit was conducting combat operations in Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan, in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM.

Gass enlisted in the Army as a Special Forces Candidate in 2008. 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.

SSG Gass graduated from the Special Forces Qualification Course in 2011 and was assigned as a Special Forces Medical Sergeant to 1st Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where he served until his death.