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Air Force Special Operations Command memorial on display at 9/11 Memorial & Museum in New York City

  • Published
  • Air Force Special Operations Command
NEW YORK CITY --  

Air Force Special Operations Command is partnering with the 9/11 Memorial and Museum in New York City to honor AFSOC members who died in combat during the war on terrorism. Lt. Gen. Mike Conley, AFSOC commander, along Chief Master Sgt. Courtney Freeman, AFSOC Command Chief, Gold Star families, and museum staff dedicated the memorial on Sept 18, 2025, at the museum in New York City.  

The octagon-shaped memorial features 41 names of AFSOC members killed in action during the war on terrorism following the attacks on 9/11.  

“We've lost a lot more through training accidents because we train hard to get to a point where we can send our men and women to combat; but as for the 41 names on that block, they are all special to me,” said Conley. “Some of them are comrades in arms that I know the names and stories of. There's a few of them that I'm honored to call my friends, people that I've served with, people that I know their families and that I knew operationally throughout our assignments,” he added. 

AFSOC loaned the memorial to the 9/11 Memorial and Museum to offer visitors a closer look at the sacrifices military members and their families have made in response to 9/11. 

"We are deeply honored that Air Force Special Operations Command has entrusted us with their command memorial, which brings a sobering clarity to the extraordinary sacrifice of military members in the years following September 11," said Clifford Chanin, Executive Vice President and Museum Director. "This installation, the first in the Museum’s ongoing rotation of military memorials, will ensure that visitors understand the profound connection between 9/11 and the decades of military service that followed, helping us fulfill our mission to educate future generations about the consequences and significance of that day." 

The dedication, held during the Air Force's 78th birthday and AFSOC's 35th anniversary year, served as a bridge connecting past military achievements to future military activities. The memorial dedication also included an enlistment ceremony as the command looks to the future force.  

“We're honored to have you as part of that team. You're getting to join a small team of about 1% of Americans,” Conley said. “You're going to go to new places. You're going to deal with new technologies. You're going to deal with new adversaries. But at the end of the day, we need people that see hard challenges and grasp them and want to be part of the solutions. So, thank you for being part of this great team.”  

The exhibit is in the Museum’s East Triangle on the east side of the North Tower footprint and adjacent to the OCME repository entrance.   

AFSOC was a cornerstone of U.S. efforts in the war on terrorism, providing specialized airpower, elite personnel, and advanced capabilities to counter terrorism and asymmetric threats worldwide.  

Names on the memorial of those killed in combat during the war on terrorism include the following:  

  1. 1st Lt. Tamara L. Archuleta , 41st Rescue Squadron, 23 Mar 03 

  • Co-pilot killed during a humanitarian mission to rescue two injured children in Afghanistan. 

  1. Capt. Derek M. Argel , 23rd Special Tactics Squadron, 30 May 05 

  • Special Tactics Officer killed in a plane crash while assisting the Iraqi Air Force. 

  1. Tech. Sgt. John W. Brown, 24th Special Tactics Squadron, 6 Aug 11 

  • Combat controller killed in action during a helicopter crash in Afghanistan. 

  1. Master Sgt. John A. Chapman , 24th Special Tactics Squadron, 4 Mar 02 

  • Medal of Honor recipient killed while saving teammates during the Battle of Takur Ghar in Afghanistan. 

  1. Tech. Sgt. Sean M. Corlew, 15th Special Operations Squadron, 12 Jun 02 

  • Loadmaster killed in an MC-130 crash while exfiltrating a Special Forces team in Afghanistan. 

  1. Staff Sgt. Casey J. Crate, 23rd Special Tactics Squadron, 30 May 05 

  • Combat controller killed in a plane crash while assisting the Iraqi Air Force. 

  1. Senior Airman Jason D. Cunningham, 38th Rescue Squadron, 4 Mar 02 

  • Pararescueman killed while treating wounded teammates during the Battle of Takur Ghar in Afghanistan. 

  1. Staff Sgt. Timothy P. Davis, 23rd Special Tactics Squadron, 20 Feb 09 

  • Combat controller killed by an IED while supporting a combat mission in Afghanistan. 

  1. Maj. William B. Downs, 6th Special Operations Squadron, 30 May 05 

  • Pilot killed in a plane crash while assisting the Iraqi Air Force. 

  1. Tech. Sgt. Scott E. Duffman, 24th Special Tactics Squadron, 18 Feb 07 

  • Combat controller killed in a helicopter crash during a combat mission in Afghanistan. 

  1. Staff Sgt. Dylan J. Elchin, 26th Special Tactics Squadron, 27 Nov 18 

  • Combat controller killed by an IED while supporting a combat mission in Afghanistan. 

  1. Capt. Jeremy J. Fresques, 23rd Special Tactics Squadron, 30 May 05 

  • Special Tactics Officer killed in a plane crash while assisting the Iraqi Air Force. 

  1. Senior Airman Mark A. Forester, 21st Special Tactics Squadron, 29 Sep 10 

  • Combat Controller killed during an eight-hour battle in Afghanistan. His heroic actions, including directing airstrikes under heavy fire, resulted in 37 insurgents killed and saved his team. He was posthumously awarded the Silver Star. 

  1. Capt. Ryan P. Hall, 319th Special Operations Squadron, 18 Feb 12 

  • U-28 pilot, on his seventh deployment, killed in a plane crash during a reconnaissance mission in Djibouti. 

  1. Staff Sgt. Andrew W. Harvell, 24th Special Tactics Squadron, 6 Aug 11 

  • Combat controller killed in action during a helicopter crash in Afghanistan. 

  1. Staff Sgt. C. Hicks, 41st Rescue Squadron, 23 Mar 03 

  • Flight engineer killed in a helicopter crash during a medical evacuation mission in Afghanistan. 

  1. Tech. Sgt. William H. Jefferson, Jr., 21st Special Tactics Squadron, 22 Mar 08 

  • Combat controller killed by an IED while supporting a combat mission in Iraq. 

  1. Senior Master Sgt. James B. Lackey, 8th Special Operations Squadron, 9 Apr 10 

  • Flight engineer killed in a CV-22 crash during combat operations in Afghanistan. Lackey was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his superior airmanship in executing an emergency landing that saved the lives of two crew and fourteen servicemembers aboard the aircraft.  

  1. Lt. Col. John D. Loftis, Air Force Special Operations Training Center, 25 Feb 12 

  • Killed in an insider attack while serving as a cultural advisor in Afghanistan. 

  1. Master Sgt. Michael H. Maltz, 38th Rescue Squadron, 23 Mar 03 

  • Pararescueman killed in a helicopter crash in southeast Afghanistan. 

  1. Master Sgt. William L. McDaniel II, 320th Special Tactics Squadron, 22 Feb 02 

  • Combat controller killed in a helicopter crash in the Philippines. 

  1. Master Sgt. William J. Kerwood, 20th Special Operations Squadron, 23 Nov 03 

  • Flight engineer killed in an MH-53 Pave Low crash during Operation Mountain Resolve near Bagram Air Base.  

  1. Maj. Steven (NMI) Plumhoff, 58th Special Operations Wing, 23 Nov 03 

  • Pave Low pilot killed in an MH-53 Pave Low crash during Operation Mountain Resolve near Bagram Air Base. 

  1. Senior Airman Jason T. Plite, 38th Rescue Squadron, 23 Mar 03 

  • Pararescueman killed while on a rescue mission attempting to save two young children in Afghanistan.  

  1. Staff Sgt. Juan M. Ridout, 320th Special Tactics Squadron, 22 Feb 02 

  • Pararescueman killed in a U.S. Army MH-47 Chinook crash in the Philippines during a mission supporting the Global War on Terror. 

  1. Capt. Matthew D. Roland, 23rd Special Tactics Squadron, 26 Aug 15 

  • Special Tactics Officer killed in an insider attack while protecting his teammates in Afghanistan. For his actions, Capt. Roland was posthumously awarded the Silver Star.  

  1. Airman 1st Class Jesse M. Samek, 66th Rescue Squadron, 21 Oct 04 

  • Airman killed in a helicopter crash during a medical evacuation mission in Afghanistan. 

  1. Senior Airman Daniel R. Sanchez, 23rd Special Tactics Squadron, 16 Sep 10 

  • Combat controller killed in action during a firefight in Afghanistan. 

  1. Staff Sgt. Scott D. Sather, 24th Special Tactics Squadron, 8 Apr 03 

  • Combat controller killed in action during the initial invasion of Iraq. His death marked the first combat casualty for the U.S. Air Force during Operation IRAQI FREEDOM.  

  1. Senior Airman Julian S. Scholten, 25th Intelligence Squadron, 18 Feb 12 

  • Mission systems operator killed in a U-28 crash when returning from a reconnaissance mission in U.S. Africa Commands area of responsibility.  

  1. Senior Airman Adam P. Servais, 23rd Special Tactics Squadron, 19 Aug 06 

  • Combat controller killed in action during a firefight in Afghanistan while serving in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. 

  1. Staff Sgt. Anissa A. Shero, 15th Special Operations Squadron, 12 Jun 02 

  • Loadmaster killed in an MC-130 crash while exfiltrating a Special Forces team in Afghanistan. 

  1. Staff Sgt. Forrest B. Sibley, 21st Special Tactics Squadron, 26 Aug 15 

  • Combat controller killed in an insider attack while supporting operations in Afghanistan. 

  1. Lt. Col. John H. Stein, 41st Rescue Squadron, 23 Mar 03 

  • Aircraft commander killed in a helicopter crash during a medical evacuation mission in Afghanistan. 

  1. Staff Sgt. John M. Teal, 41st Rescue Squadron, 23 Mar 03 

  • Flight engineer killed in a helicopter crash during a medical evacuation mission in Afghanistan. 

  1. Maj. Randell D. Voas, 8th Special Operations Squadron, 9 Apr 10 

  • CV-22 Osprey pilot killed in a crash near Kandahar, Afghanistan, during combat operations. A decorated aviator with 19 years of service in both the Army and Air Force, he was known for his leadership, heroism, and dedication, saving 16 lives in his final moments. 

  1. Tech. Sgt. Howard A. Walters, 20th Special Operations Squadron, 23 Nov 03 

  • Aerial gunner killed in a helicopter crash during combat operations in Afghanistan. 

  1. Staff Sgt. Thomas A. Walkup, Jr., 20th Special Operations Squadron, 23 Nov 03 

  • Flight engineer killed in a helicopter crash during combat operations in Afghanistan. He was awarded the Purple Heart and the Meritorious Service Medal for his efforts in saving the lives of nine other persons on the aircraft.  

  1. 1st Lt. Justin J. Wilkens, 34th Special Operations Squadron, 18 Feb 12 

  • Combat systems operator killed in a U-28 crash during a reconnaissance mission in Djibouti. 

  1. Capt. Nicholas S. Whitlock, 34th Special Operations Squadron, 18 Feb 12 

  • U-28 pilot killed in a plane crash during a reconnaissance mission in Djibouti. 

  1. Tech. Sgt. Daniel L. Zerbe, 24th Special Tactics Squadron, 6 Aug 11 

  • Combat controller killed in action during a helicopter crash in Afghanistan.