Bessa, Jeremy Eugene
Male
Verified Staff Sgt. Jeremy Eugene Bessa, 26, of Woodridge, Illinois, was a U.S. Army Special Forces soldier. He died in Kandahar, Afghanistan, on February 20, 2009, from hostile action.
Their Story
Jeremy Eugene Bessa was a Staff Sergeant in the United States Army, assigned to Company B, 1st Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne), based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He was 26 years old and from Woodridge, Illinois.
According to the Department of Defense, Bessa died on February 20, 2009, in Kandahar province, Afghanistan. The official casualty report lists his death as the result of hostile action. Specific details of the engagement were not publicly released by the military.
Bessa's death occurred during Operation Enduring Freedom, the U.S.-led military campaign in Afghanistan that began in October 2001. By 2009, the conflict was in a period of intense fighting, particularly in southern provinces like Kandahar, a traditional Taliban stronghold. Insurgent tactics, including improvised explosive devices and direct attacks, caused significant coalition casualties that year.
The Pentagon announced Bessa's death in a press release. He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, and Meritorious Service Medal. His name is inscribed on the Afghanistan War Memorial at the 3rd Special Forces Group compound and on Panel 35W, Line 65 of the Afghanistan Veterans Memorial Wall in Boston.
Staff Sgt. Bessa is remembered by his unit and community as a dedicated Green Beret. His awards and memorial placements are a matter of public record, documenting his service.
Explore Further
Staff Sgt. Bessa was killed during Operation Enduring Freedom (2001?2014). The conflict concluded in December 2014. See the full roster of those killed in this conflict.
Among those documented in the same conflict: Andrews, Evander Earl, Edmunds, Jonn Joseph, Stonesifer, Kristofor Tif, Davis, Bryant Leroy.
