![]() He is married to his wife Dawn and has five children. 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, and a Bachelor of Science Degree and Associate of Science Degree from Troy State University in Troy, Alabama. 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. 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 has also continued to author books and he speaks regularly to audiences across the United States about his experiences and about his Christian faith. Struecker then founded 2 Cities Church in Columbus, Georgia, where he is currently the lead pastor. Immediately following his retirement from the military, Struecker joined the staff of Calvary Baptist Church in Columbus, Georgia and became its lead pastor in April 2014 and resigned the position in May 2019. 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.Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal With 1 silver and 1 bronze Oak leaf clusters Master Military Freefall Parachutist Badge Struecker retired from active military service at the end of January 2011. Struecker's final military assignment was chaplain with the Regimental Special Troops Battalion of the 75th Ranger Regiment. As chaplain, Struecker served multiple tours in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq. Commissioned service Īfter his enlisted service ended in April 2000, Struecker went on to graduate from seminary and became commissioned as a chaplain. In the film based on the battle, Black Hawk Down, Struecker is portrayed by Brian Van Holt. Struecker was awarded the Silver Star for his actions in Mogadishu. He led the 3-vehicle convoy that returned, through intense fire, wounded Ranger Private Todd Blackburn to base. 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. Struecker was also recognized in 1998 with the United States Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) Noncommissioned Officer of the Year. He would go on to win the Best Ranger Competition in 1996 with partner SPC Isaac Gmazel. Enlisted service SPC Isaac Gmazel and SSG Jeff Struecker upon winning the 1996 Best Ranger Competition at Fort Benning, Georgia.Įnlisted in the United States Army in September 1987 at the age of 18, Struecker served ten years in the 75th Ranger Regiment in positions ranging from Ranger Reconnaissance specialist to platoon sergeant. In 2017, he was inducted into the Army Ranger Hall of Fame. Struecker was portrayed by Brian Van Holt in the 2001 film Black Hawk Down. Struecker has co-authored five published books. He also participated in the 1989 invasion of Panama ( Operation Just Cause) and in Kuwait during Operation Desert Storm. Jeffery Dean Struecker (born March 7, 1969) is an American author, pastor, and former United States Army Ranger who was involved in the Battle of Mogadishu in 1993.
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