Cliff, Richard Gordon Jr
Male
Verified Captain Richard Gordon Cliff Jr., 29, of Sanford, North Carolina, was a U.S. Army Special Forces officer. He died on September 29, 2008, in Yakhchal, Afghanistan, during a combat operation.
Their Story
Richard Gordon Cliff Jr. was a 29-year-old Army captain from Sanford, North Carolina. He was assigned to Company B, 1st Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne), based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. The 7th Special Forces Group is trained for unconventional warfare, foreign internal defense, and special reconnaissance, primarily in Latin America, but its mission expanded to Afghanistan after 2001.
On September 29, 2008, Captain Cliff was killed by enemy small-arms fire during a dismounted combat patrol in the village of Yakhchal, located in the volatile Helmand Province. The Department of Defense stated the patrol was conducting a combat operation when it came under hostile fire. Another soldier, Sergeant First Class Jamie S. Nicholas, 32, of Maysel, West Virginia, was killed in the same incident.
Cliff's death occurred during Operation Enduring Freedom, the U.S.-led military campaign in Afghanistan that began in October 2001. By 2008, the conflict was marked by a significant resurgence of Taliban forces, particularly in southern provinces like Helmand. U.S. and NATO troops were engaged in intense counterinsurgency operations aimed at securing population centers and training Afghan security forces.
Captain Cliff was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, and Meritorious Service Medal. He was survived by his wife, parents, and a sister. His funeral was held at the First Baptist Church in Sanford, and he was buried with full military honors at Sandhills State Veterans Cemetery in Spring Lake, North Carolina.
In 2010, a veterans' memorial park in his hometown of Sanford was dedicated, and his name is included on the Lee County Veterans Memorial. He is remembered by his unit and community as a dedicated soldier and leader.
Explore Further
Captain Cliff 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.
