|
Major Jeffrey R. Calero
Posthumously promoted to the rank of Major.
Special Forces ODA Commander
ODA 2132,
Company C, 1st Battalion
20th Special Forces
Group (Airborne)
KIA 29
October 2007 in City of Kajaki Southern Afghanistan when he was fatally struck by enemy
improvised explosive device.
Age 34 a
native of Puerto Rico
He is survived by
by his father and mother, Raymond and Roselle Calero both of Queens, N.Y.; his fiancee, Allison Weiner, of Manhattan.
and Dennis Calero of Queens Village; Irene Nauke of Manhattan, and Joyce Crespo of Westbury
and three nieces, Amelia, Lauren and Claire.
Special Forces Condolences Book
|
|
|
Awards and decorations
Three Army Commendation Medals, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal,
National Defense Service Medal,
Afghanistan Campaign Medal,
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal,
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal,
Armed Forces Reserve Medal,
Army Service Ribbon,
Two Overseas Service Ribbons,
Combat Infantryman Badge,
Expert Infantryman Badge,
Parachutist Badge,
Air Assault Badge,
Ranger Tab,
Special Forces Tab.
He was also authorized the following Commonwealth of Massachusetts awards: Mass. Service Medal, Mass. Defense Service Medal, Mass. Defense Expeditionary Medal and the Mass. Emergency Service Ribbon.
|
|
Military Education
Combined Arms and Services Staff School,
Infantry Officers Advanced Course,
Infantry Officer Basic Course,
Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle Course,
Basic Airborne Course,
Air Assault Course,
Ranger Course,
Special Forces Qualification Course.
|
|
 |
Major Jeffrey R. Calero, 34, was killed in action on Oct. 29, while conducting a combat patrol in the southern Afghan city of Kajaki while serving with ODA 2132 of Company C, 1st Battalion, 20th Special Forces Group (Airborne).
He deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Summer 2007 as a member of the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force – Afghanistan.
This was his second deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
Calero, born in Puerto Rico and after age 1 raised in Queens Village, N.Y.
He graduated from Saint Francis Preparatory High School in Queens, N.Y. where he excelled in football.
Upon graduation he received a partial scholarship to attend Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y.
He voluntarily enrolled in ROTC and upon graduating with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1995 was commissioned as a Infantry 2nd Lt. in the U.S. Army.
In 2001 he earned the coveted “Green Beret.”
As a civilian, Calero worked in New York City as a Mechanical Engineer. He was working towards earning his Professional Engineering License to open his own firm.
 |
|
Raymond and Roselle Calero hold a photo of themselves with their son, Major Jeffrey R. Calero, who was killed in Afghanistan.
“He always had the military in the back of his mind,” Raymond said of his son, explaining that in his high school yearbook, the slogan underneath Jeffrey’s picture read, “Live free or die.”
“I’m very proud of him. That’s about all I have left - to be proud,” Raymond said, “If we aren’t proud, then he died in vain.”
Raymond said that what stood out most about his son was his dedication and subtle sense of humor. |
**Information from SFAHQ.com, The Department of Defense,
USASOC used in this Article.
Return To Index |
|
