Chad A Gonsalves - OurWarHeroes.org - Tribute sites by Q Madp

Chad A Gonsalves

Turlock, California

February 13, 2006

Age

Military

Rank

Unit/Location

Army

Sgt 1st Class

3rd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group

Fort Bragg, North Carolina

Killed north of Deh Rawod, Afghanistan, when an improvised explosive device detonated near their HMMWV during combat operations.

Gonsalves, a native of Turlock, Calif., was 31 years old. He joined the Army in July 1996 and completed basic and advanced individual training as an infantryman at Fort Benning, Ga.

He then served as an infantry team leader with 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, Conn Barracks, near Schweinfurt, Germany where he served four years. In 2000, Gonsalves volunteered for Special Forces training and upon completion of the Special Forces Qualification Course he was assigned to 7th SFG (A) in 2001 as a Special Forces weapons sergeant.

His awards and decorations included the Bronze Star with “V” device, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal Joint Service Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, Parachutist Badge, Special Operations Diver Badge, Ranger Tab and Special Forces Tab.

Gonsalves’ awards and decorations included the Joint Service Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, Parachutist Badge, Special Operations Diver Badge, Ranger Tab and Special Forces Tab.

He is survived by his wife Julie, and three sons Cody, Blake and Dylan of Spring Lake, N.C. His parents, Larry and Marsha Gonsalves of Turlock also survive him.