Based: Ft. Bragg, N.C.
3rd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group
Supporting: Operation Enduring Freedom
Died: February 13, 2006
Dihrawud, Afghanistan
Married, 3 children
Gender: Male
Hometown: Turlock
Burial: Turlock Memorial Park, Turlock, Calif.
"I knew from the day I brought him home and rocked him -- I knew he was destined for the military," Marsha Gonsalves said of her elder son.Also killed were Staff Sgt. Edwin H. Dazachacon; Staff Sgt. Clinton T. Newman and Sgt. Alberto D. Montrond.
She was right. As a boy growing up in the Central Valley city of Turlock, Calif., Chad Gonsalves outfitted himself as a fantasy soldier in camouflage fatigues. As a young man who became a member of the Army's elite Special Forces, he wore the group's fabled green beret.
"That was his calling. He was just military all the way. He absolutely loved it," his mother said. "I guess if he had to die, that was the way to go."
Gonsalves, 31, a weapons sergeant first class assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Ft. Bragg, N.C., was on patrol with Afghan troops Feb. 13 in the volatile Dihrawud district of Afghanistan's Oruzgan province when his armored Humvee struck a roadside bomb, according to military officials and news reports. Gonsalves and three other U.S. soldiers were killed.
Do read the entire LA Times article about Army Sergeant 1st Class Chad Gonsalves here, find pictures and story here and more at Military Times and visit Sergeant Gonsalves' Guest Book.
 |
| Brig. Gen. John F. Mulholland Jr. presents a U.S. flag to Marsha Gonsalves, who is holding her grandson Blake. Chad's brother Joshua and his father, Larry, are beside her. |
++++++++++++++++
Sergeant Allberto D. Montrond
Staff Sergeant Edwin h. Dazachacon
Sergeant Clinton Thomas Newman
No comments:
Post a Comment