Sgt. 1st Class Robert R. Boniface

Died March 19, 2017 Serving During Operation Freedom’s Sentinel

DoD identifies 7th Special Forces Group soldier killed in non-combat incident in Afghanistan
 
The Defense Department on Monday released the name of a soldier who died in a non-combat related incident in Afghanistan.
 
Sgt. 1st Class Robert Boniface, 34, died Sunday in Logar province. The incident is under investigation, officials said.
 
Boniface, who was from El Centro, California, was deployed in support of Operation Freedom's Sentinel.
 
He was a Special Forces medical sergeant assigned to 1st Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group, which is based at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida.
 
The Army on Tuesday released additional information about Boniface, who joined the Army in March 2006 as an 18X soldier.
 
After initial military training at Fort Benning, Georgia, Boniface attended airborne school before being assigned to the Special Warfare Center and School at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
 
Upon selection and completion of the Special Forces Qualification Course, Boniface earned the coveted Green Beret on Jan. 14, 2010, according to information from 7th Special Forces Group.
 
Boniface's military awards and decorations include two Bronze Star Medals, the Army Commendation Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two campaign stars, the Special Forces tab, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Special Forces Combat Diver Badge and the Parachutist Badge.
 
He is survived by his wife, Rebekah, and their daughter Mia Elia, as well as his parents.