Calero, Jeffrey Ray
Male
Verified U.S. Army Major Jeffrey Ray Calero, 34, of Queens Village, New York, died on October 29, 2007, in Kajaki, Afghanistan, during Operation Enduring Freedom.
Their Story
Jeffrey Ray Calero was a 34-year-old U.S. Army officer from Queens Village, New York. He served with Company C, 1st Battalion, 20th Special Forces Group, a Massachusetts Army National Guard unit based in Springfield. Major Calero was a member of the U.S. Army Special Forces, commonly known as the Green Berets.
On October 29, 2007, Major Calero was killed by an improvised explosive device (IED) while on a dismounted patrol in the Kajaki district of Afghanistan's Helmand Province. The Department of Defense stated he was conducting combat operations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom at the time of his death.
Operation Enduring Freedom was the U.S.-led military campaign in Afghanistan that began in October 2001 following the September 11 attacks. The conflict involved coalition forces, the Afghan government, and insurgent groups including the Taliban and al-Qaeda. Major Calero's death occurred during a period of intense fighting in Helmand, a key insurgent stronghold.
His death was reported by major news outlets, including The New York Times and The Boston Globe. The Army posthumously awarded him the Bronze Star Medal and Purple Heart. He was survived by his parents and a sister.
Major Calero is memorialized on the Special Forces Memorial Wall at the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School at Fort Liberty, North Carolina. His name is also inscribed on the Massachusetts Fallen Heroes Memorial in Boston's Seaport District.
Explore Further
Major Calero 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.
