Staff Sgt. Tony B. Olaes

Staff Sgt. Tony B. Olaes, 30

A Special Forces Medical Sergeant

assigned to 2nd Battalion,

3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne)

Fort Bragg, N.C.

He was killed in action

while supporting

Operation Enduring Freedom

on Sept. 20, 2004, during a

combat patrol near the town of

Shkin in Afghanistan’s Paktika Province

when his vehicle came under fire from

enemy forces.

          Olaes enlisted in the South Carolina
           Army National Guard in 1992 and trained to be a man-portable air-defense system crewmember. He left the military in May 1998 and in 1999 he re-entered the Army on active duty. Olaes trained at Fort Jackson, S.C., to be a multi-channel transmissions system operator-maintainer as was assigned to the 35th Signal Brigade (Airborne) at Fort Bragg.
           He graduated from the Special Forces Qualification Course in 2001 and was then assigned to the 3rd SFG.
           Olaes’ military education includes the Special Forces Qualification Course, Advanced Special Operations Techniques Course, Jumpmaster Course, Basic Noncommissioned Officer Course and the Basic Airborne Course.
           Olaes’ awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, the Combat Medical Badge, Parachutist Badge and the Special Forces Tab.
           Olaes is survived by his wife, Tammy, and their children, Maverick, McKenzie and Alec.
- DE OPPRESSO LIBER -

Tony Bruce Olaes was born in Salem, Mass., on Nov. 13, 1973. He was raised in Oconee County in South Carolina and attended Seneca High School where he excelled in wrestling, track and tennis. He was a good student and was very popular with his classmates. After the 11th grade, he joined and started his career in the military. He then got his GED high school diploma in the military. He then went on to do two tours at Fort Bragg, N.C. Tony dedicated his life to the military. He served his country for 13 years. He was also very dedicated and supportive of his family and his
community of Spring Lake, N.C. He has three boys and a wife that mean the world to him. He and Tammy were married 11 years. They have a picture-perfect marriage. He also went on to coach soccer for his town of Spring Lake, N.C., for six years and joined fully in Boy Scouts and his boys’ education. His personal interests, besides the military, community and family, were hunting, fishing and boxing. He was a NASCAR fan and very dedicated to the New England Patriots football team. He also played an occasional game of golf. He will be missed!
- DE OPPRESSO LIBER -

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