Captain Andrew Michael Pedersen-Keel, "De Oppresso Liber"

Editor's Note: U.S. Army Captain Andrew Michael Pedersen-Keel , while serving his country in Afghanistan. Here is a biography prepared and released by his fellow officers at the U.S. Army Special Forces Command at Fort Bragg, NC. Flags in Connecticut have been ordered to half-staff in honor of Capt. Pedersen-Keel.

U.S. ARMY SPECIAL FORCES COMMAND (AIRBORNE) BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

CAPTAIN ANDREW MICHAEL PEDERSEN-KEEL Killed in action on Mar. 11, 2013

Operation Enduring Freedom-Afghanistan

He was assigned to Company B, 1st Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Bragg, N.C., and was deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

In June 2008, Pedersen-Keel deployed to Afghanistan for 12 months with the 3rd BCT where he served as a company executive officer and platoon leader. Upon completion of the deployment, he volunteered for the Special Forces Assessment and Selection Course. After completing the Special Forces Qualification Course and language training, he was assigned to the 1st Bn., 3rd SFG (A) as a detachment commander in August 2012. He deployed with the unit to Afghanistan later that year.

Pedersen-Keel's awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal (2), the Army Commendation Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two Campaign Stars, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the NATO Medal, the Air Assault Badge, the Expert Infantryman Badge, the Parachutist Badge, the Pathfinder Badge, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Ranger Tab, and the Special Forces Tab.

Captain Andrew Michael Pedersen-Keel, 28, of Madison, Conn., died Mar. 11, of wounds received from small-arms fire in Wardak Province, Afghanistan. Pedersen-Keel was commissioned as an Infantry Officer after graduating from the U.S. Military Academy in 2006. After graduation he attended the Infantry Officer Basic Course and the U.S. Army Ranger School at Fort Benning, Ga. Following his training, he was assigned to the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division (Light) at Fort Hood, Texas.

His military education includes U.S. Army Airborne School, U.S. Army Ranger School, Combat Lifesaver Course, Combatives Level I Course, Sniper Employment Leaders Course, Pathfinder Course, Maneuver Captain's Career Course, the Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape Course, and the Special Forces Detachment Officer Qualification Course.

He is survived by his parents and sister.

- DE OPPRESSO LIBER – [the motto of the U.S. Army Special Forces which is Latin for "to free the oppressed."]