The Making of OUR Warrior : How SSG Chris Falkel Became a Green Beret Warrior and Hero

On 8 August 2005, while supporting Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, the men of Special Forces Operational Detachment Alpha 316 (SFODA-316) became involved in a 54 hour combat engagement with the Taliban in Mari Ghar, Afghanistan. During the first 5 of 7 battles with the enemy those days, the planning, professionalism and bravery of Staff Sergeant Chris Falkel helped save the lives of everyone else on his team as well as the sixteen Afghan National Army Soldiers fighting with them. For his actions that day, SSG Falkel was posthumously awarded the Silver Star. Chris was only 22 years old. How does someone grow up to be a hero? What does it take? From where did this young warrior get the intestinal fortitude to confront the most terrifying of situations and to selflessly give himself for his friends? This is a sobering look at the life of one of our nation s warriors as told by his family, friends and teammates.