Army Sgt. 1st Class Pedro A. Munoz

Died January 2, 2005 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom

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47, of Aquada, Puerto Rico; assigned to the 1st Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group, Fort Bragg, N.C.; died Jan. 2 in Shindand, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained Jan. 1 when his patrol encountered enemy fire.

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N.C.-based Green Beret killed in Afghanistan

Associated Press

FORT BRAGG, N.C. — An Army Special Forces soldier based at Fort Bragg died in western Afghanistan on Sunday during combat against enemy forces, the Pentagon said Monday.

Sgt. 1st Class Pedro A. Munoz, 47, was fatally wounded late Saturday by small-arms fire while his unit was conducting an offensive operation in Shindand, Afghanistan. He died early Sunday during a medical evacuation from the scene, the Army Special Operations Command said in a separate statement Monday.

Munoz served as an operations and intelligence sergeant assigned to 1st Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group at Fort Bragg, the Special Operations Command said.

A native of Quebradillas, Puerto Rico, Munoz joined the Army in February 1986. He served in the Special Forces during operations in the first Gulf War.

In 1997 he was assigned to the Army’s exhibition parachute team, the Golden Knights.

An Army spokeswoman, Maj. Elizabeth Robbins, said a report of the incident said Munoz’ small Special Forces team was conducting a routine patrol when it came under fire. He was listed as the only fatality of the engagement.

Munoz is survived by his wife, Gisela, and his daughter, Dalia.

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Green Beret remembered as dedicated soldier and father

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — A Green Beret killed this month in Afghanistan was remembered during a memorial service Friday as a loving family man and dedicated soldier.

Sgt. 1st Class Pedro A. Munoz, 47, was fatally wounded Jan. 2 by small-arms fire while his unit was conducting an offensive operation in Shindand, Afghanistan. He died during a medical evacuation from the scene, the Army Special Operations Command said.

Munoz served as an operations and intelligence sergeant assigned to 1st Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group at Fort Bragg, N.C., the Special Operations Command said.

Several hundred people gathered at the John F. Kennedy Memorial Chapel on Fort Bragg to honor Munoz, a native of Quebradillas, Puerto Rico.

Munoz’s wife, Gisela, and daughter, Dalia, both of Fayetteville, attended the memorial service, as did several members of his family from Puerto Rico.

Retired Command Sgt. Maj. George Miller spoke of his time with Munoz in the 3rd Special Forces Group, when the pair deployed to Colombia in the mid-1990s.

Miller said he was impressed with how Munoz bonded with the Colombian forces.

“He always thought of other people before himself,” he said.

Miller supported Munoz when he said he wanted to join the U.S. Army Parachute Team, the Golden Knights, in 1997.

“I was so proud of him when he made the team,” Miller said. “It was something he wanted, and failure was not an option.”

Sgt. 1st Class Johnny Mulford, a member of the Golden Knights when Munoz tried out, said it was unusual to see a soldier nearing his 40s go out for the team, let alone make it.

“I said to myself, ‘This is an old man,’ “ Mulford said.

Mulford said Munoz always scored among the highest on physical fitness tests even though he insisted on being graded by standards set for 17- to 21-year-old soldiers.

Munoz returned to Special Forces in 2002, this time joining the 1st Battalion of the 7th Special Forces Group.

“He was 47 years old and on an A-Team,” Miller said. “That’s unheard of.”

Munoz was honored posthumously with the Bronze Star with valor device, the Purple Heart and the Meritorious Service Medal.

— Associated Press