Their Story
Remembering Erik S. Kristensen.
LCDR Erik Kristensen was killed in action (KIA) on June 28th, 2005, in Afghanistan’s Kunar province while conducting a rescue mission to save four Navy SEALs during Operation Red Wings.
He reported BUD/S at 27 years old and graduated with BUD/S class 233 in March 2001. His first assignment was as the Officer in Charge of a SEAL Platoon at SEAL Team EIGHT. In March 2005, Kristensen deployed to Afghanistan as a Task Unit CDR for SEAL Team TEN to support the U.S. Global War on Terror.
On June 28, 2005, LCDR Kristensen led a daring mission to rescue a four-man SEAL reconnaissance squad engaged in a fierce firefight with overwhelming Taliban forces in rugged 10,000 foot mountains. LCDR Kristensen, seven other SEALs, and eight Army “Nightstallker” commandos died in the heroic attempt to save them when their MH-47D Chinook helicopter was shot down by a rocket-propelled grenade.
LCDR Kristensen was awarded the Bronze Star with Combat “V,” the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (3 awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals (2 awards), National Defense Service Medals (2 awards), Sea Service Deployment Ribbons (2 awards), Expert Rifle Medal, and Expert Pistol Medal.
