Cabrera, David Elliot
Male
Verified U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel David Elliot Cabrera, 41, of Abilene, Texas, was killed by hostile action at Forward Operating Base Julian in Afghanistan on October 29, 2011.
Their Story
David Elliot Cabrera was a 41-year-old U.S. Army lieutenant colonel from Abilene, Texas. He served as a clinical psychologist assigned to the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, part of the Office of The Surgeon General in Bethesda, Maryland.
On October 29, 2011, Cabrera was killed at Forward Operating Base Julian in Wardak Province, Afghanistan. According to the Department of Defense, the cause was a suicide bomb attack. An insurgent detonated an explosive vest inside the base's tactical operations center. The blast killed Cabrera and three other soldiers: Major Adrianna M. Vorderbruggen, Sergeant First Class Tara R. Moore, and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Jose L. Montenegro.
Cabrera died during Operation Enduring Freedom, the U.S.-led military campaign in Afghanistan that began in October 2001. His death occurred during a period of heightened U.S. troop presence known as the 'surge,' which aimed to stabilize the country before a planned drawdown of forces.
In the aftermath, Cabrera's body was returned to the United States. He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal and Purple Heart. A memorial service was held at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas.
Cabrera is remembered as a dedicated psychologist who worked to support the mental health of soldiers. His name is inscribed on the Afghanistan War Memorial at the University of Texas at Austin, where he earned his doctorate.
Explore Further
LTC David Cabrera 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.
