Caban, Eric
Male
Verified Staff Sergeant Eric Caban, 28, of Fort Worth, Texas, was a U.S. Army Special Forces soldier killed in a hostile incident in Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan, on July 19, 2006.
Their Story
Eric Caban was a Staff Sergeant in the United States Army, assigned to Company B, 3rd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne), based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. A native of Fort Worth, Texas, his service included deployments to Afghanistan, the Philippines, and the Horn of Africa as part of the Special Operations Command's global counterterrorism efforts.
On July 19, 2006, Caban was killed during combat operations in Tarin Kowt, the capital of Afghanistan's Uruzgan province. According to U.S. military reports, his unit was engaged in a hostile incident. The Department of Defense stated he died from wounds sustained during small-arms fire while on patrol.
Caban's death occurred during Operation Enduring Freedom, the U.S.-led military campaign in Afghanistan that began in October 2001. In mid-2006, U.S. and NATO forces were engaged in intense counterinsurgency operations across southern Afghanistan, including Uruzgan province, against a resurgent Taliban.
Following his death, Caban was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal and the Purple Heart. He was survived by his wife and parents. A memorial service was held at Fort Bragg.
He is remembered on memorial walls at Fort Bragg and by the 7th Special Forces Group. His name is inscribed on the Special Operations Memorial at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida.
Explore Further
Eric Caban 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.
