Master Sergeant Jose Gonzalez, a Special Forces NCO, die of wounds sustained during small arms fire on August 21, 2019 during a combat operation in Faryab province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 7th Special Forces Group based at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida.
Gonzalez, a native of La Puente, California, and served 17 years in the military. He completed the Special Forces Qualification Course (SFQC) and was assigned to 1st Battalion, 7th SFG in 2014 as a Special Forces engineer sergeant.
Gonzalez deployed seven times during his career. He deployed twice as a Marine in 2003 and 2005, and as an Army infantryman in 2009. As a Green Beret, he deployed to South America in 2014 and 2018, and to Afghanistan in 2016 and 2019.
His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal with Valor, Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart Medal, Army Commendation Medal (2OLC), Army Achievement Medal (3OLC), Combat Action Ribbon, Army Good Conduct Medal with four Knot Device, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, Iraq Campaign Medal with three Campaign Stars, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon with numeral “3”, Overseas Service Ribbon, Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, NATO Medal, Special Forces Tab, Combat Infantryman Badge, Parachutist Badge, Special Operations Diver Supervisor Badge.
Jose Gonzalez was posthumously promoted to Master Sergeant. His posthumous awards include the Bronze Star Medal and Purple Heart Medal. He had been previously wounded in combat. He was the father of two children.
Gonzalez’s family initially requested the Army withhold information about the fallen soldier, but approved the release of some details on Tuesday, August 25th.
Also killed on August 21, 2019, was MSG Luis Deleon-Figueroa of 7th SFG. Both soldiers were serving with the NATO Special Operations Component Command – Afghanistan (NSOCC-A).
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References:
“DOD Identifies Army Casualties”, U.S. Department of Defense, August 22, 2019.
“Two U.S. Service Members Killed in Afghanistan”, Resolute Support, August 21, 2019.
Photo: Lt. Col. Loren Bymer, Unites States Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) spokesman, provided the photo of MSG Jose Gonzalez.
