SFC Adrian M Elizalde ~ Farewell, and Walk with God

Sergeant First Class Adrian M Elizalde

Died August 23, 2007

Baghdad, Iraq

Sergeant First Class Adrian M Elizalde, 30, of North Bend, Oregon was killed in Baghdad, Iraq on August 23, 2007, while conducting a combat patrol. He was assigned to to Company C, 2nd Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Lewis, Washington. Also killed was SFC Michael J Tully, 33, of Falls Creek, Pennsylvania. Both were in Special Forces and part of the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force - Arabian Peninsula.

SFC Elizalde attended North Bend High School in North Bend, Oregon. He played on the varsity football and wrestling team. He graduated in 1995 and entered the Army in May 1996.

He served four years as an infantryman and scout with the 3rd BN, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment (AIR). Then, he spent three years as a Long Range Surveillance Detachment team leader with Company D, 519th Military Intelligence Battalion, 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg. After graduating from the Special Forces Qualification Course as a Special Forces Engineer in 2005, SFC Elizalde earned the "Green Beret".

This son of Oregon is remembered as good-natured, a loyal friend, a good father, strong student and hard worker.

Sgt First Class Tim Freeland met and befriended Elizalde about 9 1/2 years ago at Fort Bragg. "He's my best friend. He's somebody that I look up to and that I can always turn to. He's one of those guys. He'd always get you into trouble, but he'd always get you out of trouble, too."

SFC Elicalde enjoyed wrestling, mixed marital arts and hunting.

SFC Elizalde is survived by his daughter, Sydney Grace, 6, of Klamath Falls, Oregon, and his parents, Jorge and Terese of Renton, Washington, and his sister Rachel Elizalde of Renton.

Thursday, August 30, the Patriot Guard Riders will be meeting the plane at the North Bend Airport at 1pm and escorting him to North Bend Chapel, 2014 McPherson St, North Bend.

Funeral Services will be at North Bend High School on Saturday, September 1 in the afternoon.

Burial will be at Sunset Memorial Park following the service.

The Patriot Guard Riders will be providing escort at all services.

We hold the family and friends of SFC Elizalde in our thoughts and prayers at this difficult time.