SFC Earl Robert Fillmore, Jr.

When SFC Earl R. Fillmore Jr. joined the Army under the Delayed Entry Program, he followed the paths of many of the men in his life. His grandfather, father and two uncles all served in the military.

A childhood friend said they often played soldiers. Earl Fillmore was 18 when he left Derry, Pa., for basic training at Fort Jackson, S.C. At 24, he became the youngest soldier chosen for Delta Force, part of the Army Special Forces Command at Fort Bragg.

Before his assignment with the U.S. Army Special Forces Command (Airborne), Earl Fillmore served with A Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne). He was a veteran of Operation Just Cause (Panama) and Operation Desert Shield (Saudi Arabia).

He was killed Oct. 3 while serving as a medic with Task Force Ranger in Mogadishu. He was 28.

Earl Fillmore was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously. During his career, he also received the Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge and Ranger tab.