Gary L. Harrell

Harrell earned his commission as an Infantry officer through East Tennessee State University's Army ROTC program in 1973 and was assigned to the 2nd Battalion,508th Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, as a Rifle platoon leader and AS Anti-Tank platoon leader. In 1977, after completing the Special Forces Qualification Course, he was assigned to the 7th Special Forces Group. In 1980 Harrell served as a company commander in the 1st Battalion, 505th Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division. Harrell participated in the invasion of Grenada and afterwords served with the 10th Special Forces Group. In 1985 Harrell completed a specialized selection course and was assigned to the 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment – Delta, publicly known as Delta Force at Fort Bragg where he served as Troop Commander and participated in Operation Just Cause. Later on Harrell was assigned to the Joint Special Operations Command as operations officer and participated in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm.

In 1992, he returned to Fort Bragg, North Carolina and took command of a Squadron of Delta Force and participated in combat operations during Battle of Mogadishu. In October 1993 he was severely wounded by enemy mortar fire. After graduating from United States United States Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania in June 1995, Harrell was assigned as the Deputy Commander of Delta Force and commanded the unit from July 1998 to July 2000.Afterwords he was appointed as the Director, Joint Security Directorate, U.S. Central Command from 2000 to 2002. During the Afghanistan he commanded Special Forces Task Force Bowie and was the Assistant Division Commander for the 10th Mountain Division during Operation Anaconda. From 2003 to 2005 Harrell was assigned as commanding general, Special Operations Command Central. During Operation Iraqi Freedom, Harrell commanded a special operations forces that were responsible for combat operations to prevent Scud missiles from being launched from Western Iraq and for stability operations in Northern Iraq. His last served as the Deputy Commanding General of the Army Special Operations Command. He retired in 2008.

Decorations and badges

U.S. military decorations Defense Distinguished Service Medal Defense Superior Service Medal   Bronze Star with "V" device & oak leaf cluster Purple Heart Defense Meritorious Service Medal Meritorious Service Medal (with oak leaf cluster) Army Commendation Medal (with 2 oak leaf clusters) Joint Service Achievement Medal Air Medal U.S. Unit Awards Joint Meritorious Unit Award (with oak leaf cluster) Valorous Unit Award (with oak leaf cluster) U.S. Service (Campaign) Medals and Service and Training Ribbons National Defense Service Medal (with 2 service stars) Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with 2 service stars Southwest Asia Service Medal with service star Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal Global War on Terrorism Service Medal Humanitarian Service Medal Army Service Ribbon Army Overseas Service Ribbon NATO Medal for the Former Yugoslavia Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia) Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)

Other accoutrements Combat Infantryman Badge Master Parachutist Badge Military Freefall Parachutist Badge Pathfinder Badge Special Forces Tab Ranger Tab Special Operations Diver Badge US Army Special Forces Combat Service Identification Badge Army Special Forces Distinctive Unit Insignia Unidentified foreign parachutist badge