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HUMOR - LEADERSHIP - PERSEVERANCE

Staff Sergeant Paul A. Sweeney was a Special Forces Communications Sergeant assigned to Company A, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Bragg, N.C.
He was killed Oct. 30, 2003 when his unit was ambushed while on patrol north of Musa, Qalax in Afghanistan.

Sweeney was a native of Lakeville, PA, and joined the Army in July 1991.
In September 2000, he attended the Special Forces Assessment and Selection Course and went on to attend the Special Forces Qualification Course, completing the Special Forces Communications Sergeant Course in 2001.
Before joining Special Forces, Sweeney was assigned as an Armor Crewman at Vilseck, Germany, as a Bradley Fighting Vehicle Crew Member at Fort Lewis, WA, Camps Casey and Humphreys in the Republic of Korea, and Fort Hood, TX.

His awards and decorations include the Silver Star, Purple Heart, Bronze Star Medal (2nd Award), Meritorious Service Medal,  Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal,  National Defense Service Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Expert Infantryman Badge, Parachutist Badge and Special Forces tab. Sweeney was a graduate of the Primary Leadership Development, the Basic Noncommissioned Officer Course, and the Basic Airborne Course. He also earned the Special Forces Tab and the Parachutist Badge. Sweeney was posthumously awarded the Silver Star and Purple Heart.

Character Strength Story:

HUMOR - I can remember being soaking wet in the field at Fort Hood—we were hiding from everyone as cadre for expert infantryman's badge—and we were laughing because we could not remember where we put our snacks.

Submitted by David, Surviving Battle Buddy