DoD Identifies Army Casualties

The Department of Defense announced today the death of four soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. They died north of Deh Rawod, Afghanistan, on February 13, 2006, when an improvised explosive device detonated near their HMMWV during combat operations.

            Killed were:

Sergeant First Class Chad A. Gonsalves, 31, of Turlock, California. Gonsalves was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Staff Sergeant Edwin H. Dazachacon, 38, of Belleville, Illinois. Dazachacon was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Staff Sergeant Clinton T. Newman, 26, of San Antonio, Texas. Newman was assigned to the 321st Civil Affairs Brigade, San Antonio, Texas.

Sergeant Alberto D. Montrond, 27, of Suffolk, Massachusetts. Montrond was assigned to the Group Support Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

For further information related to this release, contact Army Public Affairs at (703) 692-2000.

A resident of Fayetteville, North Carolina, Montrond enlisted in the Army in July 1998 as a quartermaster and chemical equipment repairer. After completing his specialty and airborne training, he was assigned to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, with the 307th Forward Support Battalion, 82nd Division Support Command, 82nd Airborne Division.

In June 2002, Montrond was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and assigned to the 528th Special Operations Support Battalion (Airborne), U.S. Army Special Operations Support Command. Two years later, he was assigned to the Group Support Battalion, 7th SFG (A), where he served until his death.

Montrond’s military education includes the Primary Leadership Development Course and Basic Airborne Course. His awards and decorations included the Bronze Star for valor, the Purple Heart, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal (3), the Army Achievement Medal (4), the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, the Army Service Ribbon, the Combat Action Badge, the Parachutist Badge and Driver and Mechanic Badges. He was posthumously awarded include the Bronze Star Medal for valor, the Purple Heart, the Meritorious Service Medal and theCombat Action Badge.

He is survived by his wife Christl and his children Nazeraeh and Kevyn of Fayetteville, North Carolina. His parents, Alberto and Maria Montrond of the Republic of Cape Verde, also survive him.

U.S. soldier who emigrated to the United States from Cape Verde in 1996 and attended high school in Boston was killed in Afghanistan, the Defense Department said Friday.

 Sergeant Alberto D. Montrond Jr., 27, who was stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, was killed Monday when the vehicle carrying him and three other soldiers hit a land mine during combat operations north of Deh Rawod, Afghanistan, according to a military news release.

Also killed were Sergeant First Class Chad A. Gonsalves, 31, of Turlock, California; Staff Sgt. Edwin H. Dazachacon, 38, of Belleville, Illinois; and Staff Sergeant Clinton T. Newman, 26, of San Antonio, Texas. Gonsalves and Dazachacon were assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group, at Fort Bragg. Montrond was assigned to the Group Support Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group, also at Fort Bragg, and Newman was assigned to the 321st Civil Affairs Brigade in San Antonio.

Montrond leaves his wife, Krystal, and their two young children, Nazereah and Kevyn.

"(Alberto) had finished his first term, but he re-enlisted because he felt he had a duty to serve the country," Alberto Montrond, a cousin, told the Boston Herald.

He recently had sat down with his father, Alberto Montrond Sr., to discuss his future, and expressed a great desire to stay in the Army, the father said. He re-enlisted last December.

While attending Madison Park High School in Boston, he was enrolled in the school's ROTC program.

Montrond will be buried in North Carolina, family members said. His parents plan to fly there for the funeral.