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Special Forces soldier died saving colleague

A Special Forces soldier died heroically in a June vehicle accident in Afghanistan when he gave his life to save a fellow soldier from drowning, the U.S. Army Special Operations Command announced in a news release.

Master Sgt. Shawn E. Simmons, Sgt. 1st Class Jeffrey M. Rada Morales and Sgt. James M. Treber, all from Company A, 1st Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne), from Fort Bragg, N.C., drowned June 29 when, under the cover of darkness, their heavily armored mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicle dropped off a narrow, unimproved dirt road and rolled upside down into a water-filled canal.

After recovery efforts performed by the rest of the combat convoy, Sgt. 1st Class Joseph A. Serna was found alive but suffering from hypothermia and hypoxia, the release said.

An investigation into the events that led to the rollover of their RG-31 MRAP was conducted by the Combined Joint Task Force – 101.

Serna’s sworn statement reveals that, in the immediate aftermath of the rollover, he was trapped in the passenger compartment by ammunition cans and unable to free himself as water began filling the vehicle.

“I was covered in ammo cans so I couldn’t release my seatbelt, at which time the water began to fill up inside the cab (and) I became totally submerged in my seat,” Serna said in his statement, according to the release. “I felt a hand come down and unfasten my seatbelt and release my body armor. Sgt. Treber picked me up and moved me to a small pocket of air.”

That air pocket originally was Treber’s, who had been sitting one seat ahead of Serna during the operation.

However, once Treber freed Serna from where he was trapped, he left that air pocket to Serna after determining that there was not enough air in that particular pocket for both men to breathe as the two struggled in the darkness against frigid and rising water, the release said.

“He knew there was not enough room for both of us to breathe so he went under water to find another pocket of air,” Serna stated. “Once he re-emerged we attempted to open the door and hatches with no success.”

Serna’s statement indicates that he blacked out shortly thereafter and, before his comrades were able to save them, Treber, Simmons and Rada Morales all died.

“Sergeant Treber’s selfless actions are in keeping with those traditions internalized within the ranks of our regiment,” Brig. Gen. Michael S. Repass, commander of U.S. Army Special Forces Command at Fort Bragg, said in the release. “Valor and sacrifice were not mere words to Sgt. Treber. Rather, he lost his life living the Warrior Ethos. The great sacrifice and courage which soldiers like Sgt. Treber exhibit each day inspire us to protect the values and ideals of this great country.”

At the 7th Special Forces Group unit memorial ceremony July 17, Treber was remembered as a hero that gave his all even though it may have contributed to his death.

Half of Treber’s cremated remains were interred in a memorial wall, in keeping with his wishes, after a service with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery. Treber’s wife keeps the other half in an urn at their home, the release said.

Serna has recovered from his injuries and is back serving with his unit in Afghanistan.