Army Sgt. 1st Class Adrian M. Elizalde 30, of North Bend, Ore.; was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Lewis, Wash.; died Aug. 23 in Baghdad of wounds sustained from an improvised explosive device. Also killed was Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Tully. Adrian started wrestling at age 8 and became a standout. In high school, he eventually won a district championship in the 126-pound weight class, qualifying for the state tournament. The 5-foot-6 Elizalde reached the second round. He was serious about his military career and had talked about becoming a teacher after his stint in the Army. He talked about being a science teacher and possibly a wrestling coach. He volunteered for military service and entered the Army in May 1996 as an infantryman after graduating from High School in 1995. He served four years as an infantryman and scout with 3rd Bn., 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment (AIR), and another three years as a Long Range Surveillance Detachment team leader with Company D, 519th Military Intelligence Battalion, 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg. He later earned the coveted "Green Beret" after graduating from the Special Forces Qualification Course in 2005. He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star, Purple Heart and Meritorious Service Medal. He was 30.
Army Sgt. 1st Class Adrian M. Elizalde 30, of North Bend, Ore.; was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Lewis, Wash.; died Aug. 23 in Baghdad of wounds sustained from an improvised explosive device. Also killed was Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Tully. Adrian started wrestling at age 8 and became a standout. In high school, he eventually won a district championship in the 126-pound weight class, qualifying for the state tournament. The 5-foot-6 Elizalde reached the second round. He was serious about his military career and had talked about becoming a teacher after his stint in the Army. He talked about being a science teacher and possibly a wrestling coach. He volunteered for military service and entered the Army in May 1996 as an infantryman after graduating from High School in 1995. He served four years as an infantryman and scout with 3rd Bn., 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment (AIR), and another three years as a Long Range Surveillance Detachment team leader with Company D, 519th Military Intelligence Battalion, 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg. He later earned the coveted "Green Beret" after graduating from the Special Forces Qualification Course in 2005. He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star, Purple Heart and Meritorious Service Medal. He was 30.
