A member of the U.S. Army's Special Forces died at Jalalabad Air Field Hospital, Afghanistan on August 3. The Department of Defense reports Staff Sgt. Girard "Jerry" Gass Jr., 33, suffered fatal injuries in a "non-combat related incident" while on patrol in Nangarhar Province.
The cause of Gass's death, which has not been released, is under investigation.
Gass was originally from Lumber Bridge, North Carolina. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group, Fort Bragg, N.C.
According to the Fayetteville Observer, Gass enlisted in the Army in 2008.
Gass's battalion commander, Lt. Col. Patrick O'Hara, said in a statement released by the U.S. Army Special Forces:
“Staff Sgt. Girard “Jerry” Gass was an exceptional Green Beret, noncommissioned officer, and human being who loved his family, team, country, and job with everything he had.
"He made the ultimate sacrifice for what he loved, and we are all proud, honored and humbled to have known him, and will always cherish the time we all served together. He will never be forgotten."
