Staff Sergeant Jeremie S. Border was born on March 1, 1984, and grew up in Mesquite, Texas. He graduated from Mesquite High School in 2002 and went on to McMurry University in Abilene, where he played four seasons as a defensive back for the War Hawks football team, wearing number 28. He was also active in the university’s Servant Leadership Program, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the Makona Men’s Social Club, served as a resident assistant and was named to Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges. In 2006 he graduated with bachelor’s degrees in both sociology and communications. “We remember Jeremie as an engaged student in everything he did and his infectious smile for everyone he greeted,” said McMurry’s president, Dr. John H. Russell.
Jeremie entered the Army in 2006 as an infantryman. He completed basic training, Advanced Individual Training and the Basic Airborne Course at Fort Benning, Georgia, and was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. In 2008 he was selected at Special Forces Assessment and Selection to train as a Special Forces weapons sergeant, and he learned Indonesian at the Special Operations language course at the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School.
In 2009 Jeremie earned his Green Beret and was assigned to Company B, 1st Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Torii Station, Okinawa, Japan. He later moved to Company A and deployed with the battalion to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. His military education also includes the Warrior Leader and Advanced Leader Courses and the Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape Course.
On September 1, 2012, Jeremie was killed by small-arms fire while conducting combat operations in Ghazni Province, Afghanistan. His teammate, Staff Sergeant Jonathan P. Schmidt, was killed in the same engagement. Jeremie was 28 years old. He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal with “V” device, the Purple Heart, the Meritorious Service Medal and the Afghanistan Campaign Medal. His other decorations include the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary and Service Medals, the Special Forces Tab, the Expert Infantryman Badge and the Parachutist Badge.
At McMurry, flags flew at half-staff and the university remembered him at its fall convocation. The War Hawks wore a helmet decal bearing his number 28 for the rest of the 2012 season. Jeremie is survived by his mother and stepfather, Mary Lynne Border and Robert Harris, and his sisters, DeLaynie, Katie, Ashley and Amanda.
SSG Jeremie Border was killed of wounds caused by small-arms fire while conducting combat operations in the Afghanistan province of Ghazni in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
1st Special Forces Group (Airborne)
Sources
- Family-provided records on file with MVF: Jeremie Border, USASFC biographical sketch
- Green Beret Foundation: Jeremie S. Border
- ARSOF History: Jeremie S. Border
- KTXS: Former War Hawk football player loses life in Afghanistan (Sept. 3, 2012)
- KPBS: Green Beret killed in Afghanistan
