Staff Sgt. Alexander W. Conrad, member of the 1st Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, was killed in action during an ambush attack by terrorists on Friday, June 8th, 2018, in Jubaland Province, Somalia, while serving as part of the United States efforts to defeat jihadist groups.

Sgt. Conrad was supporting a joint coalition effort by U.S., Kenyan, & Somali soldiers, Operation Octave Shield, when they came under mortar and small arms fire, causing Staff Sgt. Conrad to die from injuries sustained from enemy indirect fire. U.S. military forces advise and assist regional forces, including Somali and African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) partners, during counterterrorism operations.

He completed basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, in June of 2010 and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Huachuca, Arizona, where he was stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, as a human intelligence collector, noncommissioned officer.

Staff Sgt. Conrad was an eight-year Army Veteran and had previously served twice in Afghanistan in 2012-13 and again in 2014 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Sgt. Conrad earned many awards and decorations during his time in the military. He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart, as well as the Meritorious Service Medal.

Sgt. Conrad also received the Meritorious Unit Commendation (second award), Army Commendation Medal (third award), Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Combat Action Badge, NATO Medal and other honors.

It is said that Special Operators never die, they just go to Heaven to regroup...
Rest easy soldier, your duty is done.


The sun hung low and heavy over the dusty expanse of southern Somalia, casting long shadows across the remote outpost. The heat pressed down like a hand, still and quiet—until it wasn’t.
Gunfire ripped across the landscape.
It was supposed to be another hard day of progress. U.S. Special Forces, alongside Kenyan and Somali troops, pushing village by village to retake land held by al-Shabaab. Staff Sergeant Alexander Conrad moved calmly through the chaos. He had done this before—he had walked these narrow paths in places with names most Americans would never hear. He had done it not for glory, but because it mattered.
That day, the enemy struck hard. Mortars, small-arms fire, shouts, confusion—then training took over. Conrad didn’t panic. He steadied those around him. In the middle of that firestorm, he did what Special Forces always do: he stood between danger and those with less protection.
And then he fell.
Alex Conrad wasn’t born into the fight. He chose it.
Raised in Chandler, Arizona, he joined the U.S. Army in 2010, enlisting as a Human Intelligence Collector. It wasn’t glamorous, but it was important. Understanding people. Gathering truth. Shaping action through insight. That was his skill—and his calling.
He trained at Fort Huachuca and then reported to Joint Base Lewis-McChord with the 502nd Military Intelligence Battalion. In Afghanistan—twice—he proved himself under pressure. But it wasn’t enough. He wanted more. Not more recognition, but more impact.
In 2015, Conrad volunteered to serve with Special Forces. He went airborne. He learned French. He took every challenge and met it head-on. By the time he arrived at Fort Bragg with the 3rd Special Forces Group, he wasn’t just a soldier—he was a trusted link in America’s most elite operations.
On that June day in 2018, while supporting Operation OCTAVE SHIELD, Conrad was exactly where he wanted to be: beside the people he had trained, advised, and believed in. Partner forces trusted him—not just for his skill, but for the respect he showed them, for his quiet professionalism, and his unwavering focus on mission and humanity alike.
Four other U.S. troops were wounded that day. Several Somali soldiers died. It was a brutal reminder that combat is never clean. But through it all, Staff Sergeant Conrad held the line. His final act was in service to something greater than himself.
Back in Chandler, the grief was raw. A son. A brother. A friend. A soldier. The kind of man who never needed to speak loudly to lead.
Alexander W. Conrad’s name may not be carved into monuments in the town squares of America, but in the dirt roads of Somalia and the memories of those who served with him, it is etched deep.
His loss was felt not just by those in uniform, but by the partners he empowered and stood beside. He was more than a warrior. He was a bridge between worlds—a link between nations, between strategy and action, between hope and safety.
He died doing exactly what he had trained for: standing shoulder to shoulder with allies, holding ground under fire, and carrying the quiet weight of a nation’s promise.
Rest in strength, Staff Sergeant Conrad.
We carry your legacy forward—step by step, village by village.

Arlington National Cemetery

ALEXANDER WARREN CONRAD's Profile Picture

Alexander was an incredible collector and a talented soldier. He pushed himself to progress and excel; watching him expand his talents was a pleasure. He led with courage and understanding, both traits of an amazing leader. 

ALEXANDER WARREN CONRAD

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