Capt. Jeremy Allen Chandler

Capt. Jeremy A. Chandler

Special Forces Captain

assigned to

3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne)

based at Fort Bragg, NC

died in Tarin Khowt, Afghanistan

from non-battle related injuries

while he was conducting training

Demolitions Operations.

His wife Wendy, Raeford, N.C., and his parents, Alan and Jonnie Chandler of Richmond Hill, Ga, and a sister survive him.

Chandler's awards and decorations include a Bronze Star Medal for valor, three Army Commendation Medals, Army Achievement Medal, two National Defense Service Medals, Kosovo Campaign Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Air Assault Badge, Combat Infantryman Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, Master Parachutist Badge, Master Free Fall Parachutist Badge, Special Forces Tab and Ranger Tab.

     Capt. Jeremy A. Chandler was born on July 25, 1975, in Alabama. He was a Special Forces officer assigned to 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Bragg, N.C.      He died from non-battle related injuries while he was conducting training operations at Tarin Khowt, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom on August, 11, 2005.      Chandler deployed to Afghanistan in support of the Global War on Terrorism.       This was his third deployment to Afghanistan. A resident of Clarksville, Tenn., Chandler was commissioned in the Army immediately following graduation from North Georgia College in Dahlonega, Ga., in 1997. He majored in history.
     He graduated from basic airborne and infantry officer training at Fort Benning, Ga., in 1998. and was assigned as an as an infantry officer with the 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) at Fort Campbell, Ky.      He deployed with the battalion to Kosovo in 2000 supporting Operation Joint Guardian.
     In 2001, Chandler volunteered for Special Forces, he was selected and later graduated from the Special Forces Qualification Course.      Upon completion of Arabic language training in 2003, he was assigned to 3rd SFG at Fort Bragg, NC.       He earned his military free fall jumpmaster qualification in 2004. Military free fall is an advanced special operations skill.
     Chandler’s military education and schools include Basic Airborne Course, Infantry Officer Basic Course, Ranger Course, Army Officer Advanced Course, Combined Arms Services Staff School, Special Forces Qualification Course, Basic Jumpmaster Course, Free Fall Jumpmaster Course, Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape Course and Airborne School.

Capt. Jeremy A. Chandler

Alumni of the SCPS Class of '93

was killed on Thursday, August 11th

while training at a base near

Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan.

Jeremy was serving his

third deployment to Afghanistan

with the 1st Battalion,

3rd Special Forces Group

Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

While at SCPS

Jeremy played football

ran track

played soccer and

participated in Quiz Bow

His sister, Alecia, is an alumni

of the SCPS Class of '95.

Plans have been made for his memorial service at Fort Bragg’s JFK Special Forces Chapel in Fayetteville, NC on Friday, August 19th at 10:00 a.m.

The funeral will be Tuesday August 23rd at 2 p.m. at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C.

The family has asked that in lieu of flowers, any remembrances may be sent to:

CPT Jeremy Alan Chandler Leadership Scholarship
NGCSU Foundation
70 Alumni Drive
Dahlonega, GA 30533
For more information, visit:

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8/16/2005 3:00:00 PM Soldier with local ties killed in Afghanistan
Wayne Engle Courier Staff Writer Courier reporter Peggy Vlerebome contributed information for this story.

A photo of Jeremy Chandler and his father hangs in the Jefferson County Courthouse with photos of other military personnel with local ties serving in the Middle East.

Capt. Jeremy Alan Chandler, an Army Special Forces Green Berets team leader with ties to Jefferson County, died in a training accident while on combat duty with U.S. forces in Afghanistan last Thursday, his family confirmed. Chandler, 28, whose home of record was Savannah, Ga., is the grandson of Norma Cheatham and the nephew of Jack Chandler, both of Hanover, and a first cousin, Ron Chandler of Madison.

Jack Chandler confirmed that his nephew was killed in an accidental explosion while his eight-man Special Forces team was training for its next combat assignment. Jack Chandler said the team was using explosive devices that are used to blow open doors and other secured areas, and that one detonated prematurely. He said the explosion killed Capt. Chandler and left two or three of his men badly wounded.

The explosion was not the result of any mistakes on the part of the Special Forces men, however, Jack Chandler said.

“He was a helluva warrior, a Green Beret,” Chandler said. “He won the Bronze Star. That’s the third-highest award you can win in the military. You don’t win that for nothing.”

Chandler said his nephew graduated from high school in Savannah, then attended college in Georgia. He and his wife, Wendy, were married Aug. 7, 2004. Fort Bragg, N.C., was his permanent duty station.

The captain’s parents, retired Lt. Col. Alan Ray Chandler and Jonnie Chandler, live in Savannah.

Jack Chandler said his nephew is to be buried in Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C., Tuesday, Aug. 23. The Special Forces are to hold a memorial service Friday at Fort Bragg. Chandler said all family members from Jefferson County will be going to the services.

An Arlington, Va., funeral home is to be in charge of arrangements, Chandler said.

**Information from SFAHQ.com, The Department of Defense, USASOC used in this Article.