Rada Morales, Jeffrey Michael
Male
Verified U.S. Army Sergeant First Class Jeffrey Michael Rada Morales, 32, of Naranjito, Puerto Rico, was killed in action on June 29, 2008, in Kandahar, Afghanistan. He was assigned to Company A, 1st Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group, based at For
Their Story
Jeffrey Michael Rada Morales was born in Puerto Rico and grew up in the town of Naranjito. He enlisted in the U.S. Army and rose to the rank of Sergeant First Class, serving as a Special Forces soldier with the 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne). His unit, based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, specialized in unconventional warfare, foreign internal defense, and counterterrorism.
On June 29, 2008, Rada Morales was killed during combat operations in Kandahar province, southern Afghanistan. According to the U.S. Department of Defense, his vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device (IED). He was 32 years old.
Rada Morales died during Operation Enduring Freedom, the U.S.-led military campaign in Afghanistan that began in October 2001. By 2008, the conflict had entered a period of intense fighting, particularly in the south. Insurgent forces, including the Taliban, had regrouped and were employing IEDs as a primary weapon, leading to a significant increase in coalition casualties that year.
His death was announced by the Department of Defense. He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, and Meritorious Service Medal. His remains were returned to Puerto Rico, where he was buried with military honors.
Sergeant First Class Rada Morales is memorialized on the Afghanistan War Memorial at the 7th Special Forces Group compound and on the Special Forces Memorial Wall at Fort Bragg. He is remembered by his unit and community as a dedicated soldier.
Explore Further
SFC Rada Morales was killed during Operation Enduring Freedom (2001–2014). The conflict concluded in December 2014. See the full roster of those killed in this conflict.
Among those documented in the same conflict: Andrews, Evander Earl, Edmunds, Jonn Joseph, Stonesifer, Kristofor Tif, Davis, Bryant Leroy.
