Memorial to fallen men and women of Special Operations Forces

Tampa, FL – In the shadow of U.S. Special Operations Command Headquarters on MacDill Air Force Base sits a memorial to those who work in the shadows, the fallen men and women of Special Operations Forces.

Tampa, FL – In the shadow of U.S. Special Operations Command Headquarters on MacDill Air Force Base sits a memorial to those who work in the shadows, the fallen men and women of Special Operations Forces.

The Special Operations Forces Memorial is dedicated to those who risk their lives and have given their lives in service to this country. The SOF Memorial is not open to the public, but 10News WTSP was invited to attend a special service as 12 new names were added to the memorial and two statues of SOF K9 operators were unveiled.

A view from the sky shows an unmistakable image. The SOF Memorial is shaped in the tip of the spear. The spearhead represents Special Operations Forces as the leading force in elite military action.

From the ground, the true meaning of the memorial becomes more apparent. Names of fallen members of SOF are etched in stone on the walls that encircle this monument. There are 1028 names that line the walls.

“I think you just need to see the names and know that so many families share that same, same sadness,” said Celeste Mills.

Her son, Staff Sergeant Joshua Mills, was killed by an IED in Afghanistan in 2009. She traveled from Texas to visit the memorial and honor her son.

“It’s simple, but very powerful,” she said as she touched his name on the wall.

His name rests next to his fallen SOF brothers. Some of the names you’ll recognize, but many you will not.

“This is hallowed ground for us,” said Command Sergeant Major for U.S. Special Operations Command, Bill Thetford.

“This is our family. These are our fallen brothers. It is a brotherhood and so when you lose one of your brothers it is a devastating loss. It just hits all that deeper when you lose a buddy,” he said.

On the morning of May 26^th, 12 of his fallen SOF brothers were added to the wall. Six were killed in combat, six were killed in training.

CSM Thetford explained the oath made between the warriors.

“We have an agreement. We have a pledge to one another that if something happens to us we will not forget one another and we will help take care of each other’s families,” Thetford explained.

In addition to their human brothers, there is also a memorial monument to the SOF K9s that have been killed in the line of duty. 65 of their four-legged operators have died. There are now two bronze statues of SOF K9s standing guard at the front of the memorial.

CSM Thetford says it’s hard to quantify how many lives they have saved on combat missions. He says the bond between brothers is strong and that bond can be just as strong between man and dog.

The SOF memorial is an outward sign of the pledge made between brothers. It’s a quiet and powerful tribute to the supreme sacrifices made by the soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines whose names line the walls.

They gave all for their country and their families. Celeste Mills says there would be no better way to honor their service because this memorial will stand through time.

“That their sacrifices will not be forgotten and they really did give all,” she said.

The Special Operations Forces memorial is not open daily to the public, however, you are able to visit it when the base is open to visitors for events such as the Tampa Bay AirFest.

The Special Operations Memorial Foundation maintains the memorial. It’s an independent group that is not affiliated with MacDill AFB or USSOCOM. To learn more about the memorial and how you can donate to help with its upkeep, click HERE. They have also created a gofundme page.