Jeff Struecker

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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)

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

  • 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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

  • 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[edit]

  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

External links[edit]

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