RICHMOND HILL, GA, USA
U.S. Army
CPT, COMPANY C, 1ST BATTALION, 3D SFG (A) (CJSOTF-A), FORT BRAGG, NC
TARIN KHOWT, AFGHANISTAN 08/11/2005
Captain 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, 28, whose home of record was Savannah, Georgia, 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, North Carolina, was his permanent duty station.
Jack Chandler said his nephew is to be buried in Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C., Tuesday, August 23, 2005.
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.
His wife Wendy, Raeford, N.C., and his parents, Alan and Jonnie Chandler of Richmond Hill, Ga, and a sister survive him.