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Jeff Struecker

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Jeff Struecker
Struecker in 2009
Born(1969-03-07)March 7, 1969(age 55)
Fort Dodge, Iowa,U.S.
AllegianceUnited States
Service/branchUnited States Army
Years of service1987–2011
RankMajor
Unit3d Battalion,75th Ranger Regiment
Battles/warsOperation Just Cause
Gulf War
Operation Gothic Serpent
Iraq War
War in Afghanistan
AwardsSilver Star Medal
Bronze Star Medal(3)

Jeffery Dean Struecker(born March 7, 1969)[1][2]is an American author, pastor, and formerUnited States ArmyRangerwho was involved in theBattle of Mogadishuin 1993.[2][3][4]He also participated in the 1989invasionofPanama(Operation Just Cause)[2][3]and inKuwaitduringOperation Desert Storm.[2][3]Struecker has co-authored five published books.[5]Struecker was portrayed byBrian Van Holtin the 2001 filmBlack Hawk Down.In 2017, he was inducted into the Army Ranger Hall of Fame.[6]

Enlisted service

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SPC Isaac Gmazel and SSG Jeff Struecker upon winning the 1996 Best Ranger Competition at Fort Benning, Georgia.

Enlisted in theUnited States Armyin September 1987[2]at the age of 18, Struecker served ten years in the75th Ranger Regiment[7]in positions ranging from Ranger Reconnaissancespecialisttoplatoon sergeant.He would go on to win theBest Ranger Competitionin 1996 with partner SPC Isaac Gmazel.[4][8]

Struecker was also recognized in 1998 with the United States ArmyReserve Officers' Training Corps(ROTC) Noncommissioned Officer of the Year.[9]

Battle of Mogadishu

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In the 1993Battle of Mogadishu,Struecker was a 24-year-oldsergeantand squad leader assigned toTask Force Rangeras a part of the75th Ranger Regiment.He led the 3-vehicle convoy that returned, through intense fire, wounded Ranger Private Todd Blackburn to base. Struecker was awarded theSilver Starfor his actions in Mogadishu.[10]

In the film based on the battle,Black Hawk Down,Struecker is portrayed byBrian Van Holt.[11]

Commissioned service

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After his enlisted service ended in April 2000,[2]Struecker went on to graduate from seminary and became commissioned as a chaplain.[3][12]As chaplain, Struecker served multiple tours in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq.[9]Struecker's final military assignment was chaplain with theRegimental Special Troops Battalionof the75th Ranger Regiment.[13][14]Struecker retired from active military service at the end of January 2011.[13]

Awards and decorations

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  • Struecker has also earned sixOverseas Service Bars,2nd Infantry RegimentDUIand Thai Parachutist Wings as well as other foreign wings and one unidentified fourragère.[2][15]

Post-military career

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Immediately following his retirement from the military, Struecker joined the staff of Calvary Baptist Church inColumbus, Georgia[9][13]and became its lead pastor in April 2014 and resigned the position in May 2019.[16]Struecker then founded 2 Cities Church in Columbus, Georgia, where he is currently the lead pastor. Struecker has also continued to author books[5]and he speaks regularly to audiences across the United States about his experiences and about hisChristianfaith.[17]

Return to Mogadishu

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In March 2013 Struecker returned to Mogadishu with a film crew to shoot a short filmReturn to Mogadishu: Remembering Black Hawk Downwhich debuted in October 2013 on the 20th anniversary of the battle. Struecker and fellow veteran-turned-country singerKeni Thomasrelived the battle as they drove through theBakaara Marketin armored vehicles and visited the Wolcott crash site.

Education and personal life

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Struecker earned the Doctor of Philosophy fromSoutheastern Baptist Theological SeminaryinWake Forest, North Carolina,a Master of Divinity Degree from theSouthern Baptist Theological SeminaryinLouisville, Kentucky,[3]and a Bachelor of Science Degree and Associate of Science Degree fromTroy State UniversityinTroy, Alabama.

He is married to his wife Dawn and has five children.[3]

Published books

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  • The Road To Unafraid: How the Army's Top Ranger Faced Fear and Found Courage through Black Hawk Down and Beyond(2006)ISBN0-8499-0060-3[5]
  • Certain Jeopardy(2009)ISBN0-8054-4853-5[5]
  • Blaze of Glory: A Novel(2010)ISBN0-8054-4854-3[5]
  • Fallen Angel: A Novel(2011)ISBN1-4336-7140-9[5]
  • Hide and Seek: A Novel(2012)ISBN1-4336-7142-5[5]
  • Start Here(2021) ISBN 978-1736799109

References

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  1. ^Curriculum VitaeArchived2022-07-25 at theWayback Machine,Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary;retrieved June 2018
  2. ^abcdefgCongressional Record 107th Congress (2001–2002)Archived2020-04-14 at theWayback Machine,thomas.loc.gov; retrieved February 2011
  3. ^abcdefKelly, Clint;"Facing Fear"Archived2008-10-29 at theWayback Machine,HomeLife Magazine, March 2007
  4. ^ab'Black Hawk Down' hero urges Gator Bowl teams to trust ChristArchived2012-03-07 at theWayback Machine,gofbw; retrieved December 2010
  5. ^abcdefgBooks > Jeff StruekerArchived2020-01-07 at theWayback Machine,amazon; retrieved December 2010
  6. ^Diamond, Christopher (2017-08-07)."Meet the newest members of the Army's Ranger Hall of Fame".Army Times.Archivedfrom the original on 2022-07-25.Retrieved2021-05-28.
  7. ^"The Fight of Faith: lives and testimonies from the battlefield" Bray,P./Claydon,M. (Eds) Ch 2 p10 (Merill,D./Struecker,J.): London, Panoplia, 2013ISBN978-0-9576089-0-0
  8. ^Best Ranger Competition – Previous Winners,army.mil; retrieved December 2010
  9. ^abcStruecker...Joins Staff at Local Church[permanent dead link],ledger-enquirer; retrieved January 2011
  10. ^"Ft. Benning Soldiers Awarded Silver Stars for Serving in Battle of Mogadishu"Archived2022-07-25 at theWayback Machine,wtvm; retrieved October 2021
  11. ^Brian Van Holt CreditsArchived2016-03-05 at theWayback Machine,tvguide; retrieved December 2010
  12. ^Jeff StruekerArchived2013-07-20 at theWayback Machine,bhpublishinggroup; retrieved December 2010
  13. ^abc"Army Chaplain Joins Staff of Local Church".WRBL.Archived fromthe originalon 15 January 2011.RetrievedJanuary 17,2011.
  14. ^"Face of Defense: Chaplain Helps Others Fight Stress".DOD.9 November 2009. Archived fromthe originalon 4 October 2013.
  15. ^Chaplain (Maj.) Jeff Struecker to speak...Archived2015-04-02 at theWayback Machine,ledger-enquirer; retrieved January 7, 2011
  16. ^Wilhite Ending 40 Years at Calvary Baptist ChurchArchived2014-05-17 at theWayback Machine,ledger-enquirer; retrieved May 2014
  17. ^A List of Evangelistic Speakers,godsquad; retrieved December 2010
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