Jeff Struecker

Jeff Struecker
Struecker in 2009
Born (1969-03-07) March 7, 1969 (age 55)
Fort Dodge, Iowa, U.S.
AllegianceUnited States
Service / branchUnited States Army
Years of service1987–2011
RankMajor
Unit3d Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment
Battles / warsOperation Just Cause
Gulf War
Operation Gothic Serpent
Iraq War
War in Afghanistan
AwardsSilver Star Medal
Bronze Star Medal (3)
Alma mater

Jeffery Dean Struecker (born March 7, 1969)[1][2] is an American author, pastor, and former United States Army Ranger who was involved in the Battle of Mogadishu in 1993.[2][3][4] He also participated in the 1989 invasion of Panama (Operation Just Cause)[2][3] and in Kuwait during Operation Desert Storm.[2][3] Struecker has co-authored five published books.[5] Struecker was portrayed by Brian Van Holt in the 2001 film Black Hawk Down. In 2017, he was inducted into the Army Ranger Hall of Fame.[6]

Enlisted service

SPC Isaac Gmazel and SSG Jeff Struecker upon winning the 1996 Best Ranger Competition at Fort Benning, Georgia.

Enlisted in the United States Army in September 1987[2] at the age of 18, Struecker served ten years in the 75th Ranger Regiment[7] in positions ranging from Ranger Reconnaissance specialist to platoon sergeant. He would go on to win the Best Ranger Competition in 1996 with partner SPC Isaac Gmazel.[4][8]

Struecker was also recognized in 1998 with the United States Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) Noncommissioned Officer of the Year.[9]

Battle of Mogadishu

In the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu, Struecker was a 24-year-old sergeant and squad leader assigned to Task Force Ranger as a part of the 75th Ranger Regiment. He led the 3-vehicle convoy that returned, through intense fire, wounded Ranger Private Todd Blackburn to base. Struecker was awarded the Silver Star for his actions in Mogadishu.[10]

In the film based on the battle, Black Hawk Down, Struecker is portrayed by Brian Van Holt.[11]

Commissioned service

After his enlisted service ended in April 2000,[2] Struecker went on to graduate from seminary and became commissioned as a chaplain.[3][12] As chaplain, Struecker served multiple tours in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq.[9] Struecker's final military assignment was chaplain with the Regimental Special Troops Battalion of the 75th Ranger Regiment.[13][14] Struecker retired from active military service at the end of January 2011.[13]

Awards and decorations

  • Struecker has also earned six Overseas Service Bars, 2nd Infantry Regiment DUI and Thai Parachutist Wings as well as other foreign wings and one unidentified fourragère.[2][15]

Post-military career

Immediately following his retirement from the military, Struecker joined the staff of Calvary Baptist Church in Columbus, Georgia[9][13] and became its lead pastor in April 2014 and resigned the position in May 2019.[16] Struecker then founded 2 Cities Church in Columbus, Georgia, where he is currently the lead pastor. Struecker has also continued to author books[5] and he speaks regularly to audiences across the United States about his experiences and about his Christian faith.[17]

Return to Mogadishu

In March 2013 Struecker returned to Mogadishu with a film crew to shoot a short film Return to Mogadishu: Remembering Black Hawk Down which debuted in October 2013 on the 20th anniversary of the battle. Struecker and fellow veteran-turned-country singer Keni Thomas relived the battle as they drove through the Bakaara Market in armored vehicles and visited the Wolcott crash site.

Education and personal life

Struecker earned the Doctor of Philosophy from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, North Carolina, a Master of Divinity Degree from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky,[3] and a Bachelor of Science Degree and Associate of Science Degree from Troy State University in Troy, Alabama.

He is married to his wife Dawn and has five children.[3]

Published books

  • The Road To Unafraid: How the Army's Top Ranger Faced Fear and Found Courage through Black Hawk Down and Beyond (2006) ISBN 0-8499-0060-3[5]
  • Certain Jeopardy (2009) ISBN 0-8054-4853-5[5]
  • Blaze of Glory: A Novel (2010) ISBN 0-8054-4854-3[5]
  • Fallen Angel: A Novel (2011) ISBN 1-4336-7140-9[5]
  • Hide and Seek: A Novel (2012) ISBN 1-4336-7142-5[5]
  • Start Here (2021) ISBN 978-1736799109

References

  1. ^ Curriculum Vitae Archived 2022-07-25 at the Wayback Machine, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary; retrieved June 2018
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Congressional Record 107th Congress (2001–2002) Archived 2020-04-14 at the Wayback Machine, thomas.loc.gov; retrieved February 2011
  3. ^ a b c d e f Kelly, Clint; "Facing Fear" Archived 2008-10-29 at the Wayback Machine, HomeLife Magazine, March 2007
  4. ^ a b 'Black Hawk Down' hero urges Gator Bowl teams to trust Christ Archived 2012-03-07 at the Wayback Machine, www.gofbw.com; retrieved December 2010
  5. ^ a b c d e f g Books > Jeff Strueker Archived 2020-01-07 at the Wayback Machine, www.amazon.com; retrieved December 2010
  6. ^ Diamond, Christopher (2017-08-07). "Meet the newest members of the Army's Ranger Hall of Fame". Army Times. Archived from the original on 2022-07-25. Retrieved 2021-05-28.
  7. ^ "The Fight of Faith: lives and testimonies from the battlefield" Bray,P./Claydon,M. (Eds) Ch 2 p10 (Merill,D./Struecker,J.): London, Panoplia, 2013 ISBN 978-0-9576089-0-0
  8. ^ Best Ranger Competition – Previous Winners, www.army.mil; retrieved December 2010
  9. ^ a b c Struecker...Joins Staff at Local Church[permanent dead link‍], www.ledger-enquirer.com; retrieved January 2011
  10. ^ "Ft. Benning Soldiers Awarded Silver Stars for Serving in Battle of Mogadishu" Archived 2022-07-25 at the Wayback Machine, www.wtvm.com; retrieved October 2021
  11. ^ Brian Van Holt Credits Archived 2016-03-05 at the Wayback Machine, www.tvguide.com; retrieved December 2010
  12. ^ Jeff Strueker Archived 2013-07-20 at the Wayback Machine, www.bhpublishinggroup.com; retrieved December 2010
  13. ^ a b c "Army Chaplain Joins Staff of Local Church". WRBL. Archived from the original on 15 January 2011. Retrieved January 17, 2011.
  14. ^ "Face of Defense: Chaplain Helps Others Fight Stress". DOD. 9 November 2009. Archived from the original on 4 October 2013.
  15. ^ Chaplain (Maj.) Jeff Struecker to speak... Archived 2015-04-02 at the Wayback Machine, www.ledger-enquirer.com; retrieved January 7, 2011
  16. ^ Wilhite Ending 40 Years at Calvary Baptist Church Archived 2014-05-17 at the Wayback Machine, www.ledger-enquirer.com; retrieved May 2014
  17. ^ A List of Evangelistic Speakers, www.godsquad.com; retrieved December 2010
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