Special Forces Association Chapter 7

Great seeing our brother and friend JD honored at the Ice Flyers game! Well deserved JD!

We’re honored to celebrate a true American hero from our team at Black Rifle Coffee Company. Tonight, our General Manager, JD, was recognized as the Center Ice Hero by the Pensacola Ice Flyers @pcolaiceflyers — and we couldn’t be more proud. JD served 22 years with the 7th Special Forces Group as a Green Beret, completing 15 career deployments in defense of our nation. He’s also a Military Free Fall Jump Master with an incredible 2,890 jumps to his name — a testament to his discipline, courage, and commitment to excellence. His leadership, humility, and dedication continue to inspire our team and our community every day. Please join us in congratulating JD on this well-deserved recognition. 🇺🇸 #CenterIceHero #GreenBeret #BlackRifleCoffee

Come out and celebrate our brother in arms Dan Williams next Saturday, February 21st at 3pm, at the Hub City Church in Crestview, with dinner and fellowship to follow. The meal will be potluck style, so feel free to bring a dish to share.

This will be a time to share stories and celebrate his legacy among those that had the honor to know and love him.

It’s been our honor to have had the time working with Dan throughout his career in the Army and Special Forces.

Missed dearly but never forgotten.

Hub City family and friends, we want to invite you to join us as we celebrate the life of our dearly loved brother, Dan Williams, who faithfully served as our Deacon of Outreach and made such a huge impact in our lives.

The service will be held next Saturday, February 21st at 3pm, with dinner and fellowship to follow. The meal will be potluck style, so feel free to bring a dish to share.

More than anything, this will be a time to give thanks to the Lord for the abundant grace we saw in Dan’s life — his servant heart, his love for people, and his passion for the gospel. We grieve his loss, but we do so with hope, confident that we will see him again around the throne of the risen Christ.

Anyone who knew and loved Dan is welcome to attend as we honor his legacy, strengthen one another in hope, and give glory to Christ for the beautiful work He accomplished through Dan's life.

Today we remember, Staff Sgt. Edwin H. DazaChacon, 38, a cryptologic linguist assigned to the Headquarters and Service Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Bragg, N.C., died Feb. 13, 2006 when an Improvised Explosive Device detonated near his vehicle north of Deh Rawod in central Afghanistan.

A native of Diamond Bar, Calif., SSG DazaChacon enlisted in the Army in 1990 as an infantryman. He spoke Spanish and was a college graduate. He served with the 508th Infantry Regiment (Airborne) in Vincenza, Italy and participated in deployments in Southwest Asia, Bosnia, Rwanda and the Sanai. He also served with 1st Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, Fort Bragg, N.C., during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. He left military service in 1997 and reenlisted in March 2005.

In April 2005, SSG DazaChacon was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 7th SFG (A), where he served as a Special Operations TeamAlpha (SOT-A) Team Leader until his death. SOT-A Teams deploy with Special Forces Operational Detachments "Alpha" to provide signals intelligence and electronic warfare support.

His military education included Basic Combat Training, Advanced Individual Training for Infantrymen, the Basic Noncommissioned Officer Course, the Primary Leadership Development Course, Basic Airborne Course, and the Jumpmaster Course.

SSG DazaChacon’s awards and decorations included the Army Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Army Achievement Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Armed Forces Service Medal, the Humanitarian Service Medal, the Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the Multinational Force and Observers Medal, the NATO Medal, the Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia), the Kuwait Liberation Medal (Government of Kuwait), the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Expert Infantryman Badge, the Senior Parachutist Badge, and the Tunisian Parachutist Badge. His posthumous awards include the Bronze Star Medal for valor, Meritorious Service Medal, Purple Heart and Combat Infantryman Badge.

He was survived by his mother, Smila Franks; his father Edison DazaArana; and his sisters, Monique Francesca DazaChacon, and Jessica DazaChacon.

- DE OPPRESSO LIBER-

A quick glimpse at the schedule for SFACON 2026!

This year's convention on the Emerald Coast will showcase the Fort Walton Beach area and share time on Camp Bull Simons with 7th Group. We look forward to bringing multiple generations of Green Berets together to experience some of the most military supportive communities, great beaches and culture, and the home of 7th Special Forces Group.

Conference Registration will open soon and include a hospitality room, the expo/ symposium, socials, and banquet. Additional outings and activities will be available via separate registration.

Vendor Registration:

https://forms.gle/oebFyiA37A5Kf2cJ9

or contact Mike Hume at:
[email protected]

Hotels:

Home 2 Suites and Holiday Inn Express are located at the Freedom Tech Center, adjacent to the Rigdon Conference center and about 25 min to Camp Bull Simons. The Island resort is an amazing on the beach resort option and about 15 minutes from the Freedom Tech Center.

Home 2 Suites Fort Walton Beach Eglin Air Force Base
https://www.hilton.com/en/book/reservation/deeplink/?ctyhocn=VPSWBHT&groupCode=CHT90L&arrivaldate=2026-06-07&departuredate=2026-06-12&cid=OM,WW,HILTONLINK,EN,DirectLink&fromId=HILTONLINKDIRECT

Holiday Inn Express & Suites Fort Walton Beach Eglin Area:
https://www.ihg.com/holidayinnexpress/hotels/us/en/find-hotels/select-roomrate?fromRedirect=true&qSrt=sBR&qIta=99801505&icdv=99801505&qSlH=VPSFN&qCiD=05&qCiMy=052026&qCoD=14&qCoMy=052026&qGrpCd=SFC&setPMCookies=true&qSHBrC=EX&qDest=300%20Liberty%20Lane%20NW,%20Fort%20Walton%20Beach,%20FL,%20US&showApp=true&adjustMonth=false&srb_u=1&qRmFltr=

The Island Resort at Fort Walton Beach
https://be.synxis.com/?Hotel=37398&Chain=6255&arrive=2026-06-07&depart=2026-06-12&adult=1&child=0&group=2606SFACON.. standard to spectacular!

Today we remember Master Sergeant Sean W. McClure, 42, who died unexpectedly on 5 January 2015 while on holiday leave. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne).

MSG McClure, a resident of Niceville, Florida was born December 19, 1972 in Baltimore, Maryland. He was a 1991 graduate of Severna Park Senior High School in Severna Park, Maryland. MSG McClure enjoyed boating, fishing, hunting, and most of all spending time with family and friends. He was an avid Baltimore Ravens and Baltimore Orioles fan. Immediately following high school graduation, he enlisted into the U.S. Army as a Military Police Officer where he served in various MP leadership positions. He volunteered for Special Forces in 1999. MSG McClure attended the Special Forces Qualification Course (SFQC) in 1999. He graduated SFQC in 2001 and was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) as a Special Forces Communications Sergeant. While assigned to 2nd Battalion, MSG McClure deployed to Colombia and Afghanistan. In 2004 he was assigned as a Senior Communications Sergeant in the 7th SFG (A) Commander's In-extremis Force (CIF). While assigned to the CIF, he deployed with ODAs 7335 and 7336 to Colombia, Paraguay, Chile, Iraq, Belize, Trinidad and Tobago and Peru. In 2011 he was assigned to B Company 1st Battalion 1st SWTG (A) where he served as the Senior Writer/lnstructor for Small Unit Tactics (SUT). In January 2014, MSG McClure returned to C Co 2nd Battalion 7th SFG (A) where he served as Team Sergeant for ODA 7234 and was deployed to Honduras.

MSG McClure's military education includes the Nuclear, Biological, Chemical Defense Course, Warrior Leader Course, Air Assault, Advance Leader Course, Airborne, Special Forces Qualification Course, Spanish Basic Military Language Course, Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape (High Risk) Course, Ranger School, Special Forces Advanced Reconnaissance, Target Analysis, and Exploitation Techniques Course, Special Forces Advanced Urban Combat Course, Senior Leader Course, Airborne Jumpmaster Course, Special Operations Target Interdiction Course, Military Free Fall Parachutist Course and Military Free Fall Jumpmaster Course.

MSG McClure's awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal with V device 2nd OLC, Army Commendation Medal 6th OLC, Army Achievement Medal 4th OLC, Army Superior Unit Award, Army Good Conduct Medal 6th OLC, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Two Iraq Campaign Medal's, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Special Forces Tab, Ranger Tab, Combat Infantryman Badge, Military Freefall Parachutist Badge, Military Freefall Parachutist Jumpmaster Badge, Parachutist Badge and Air Assault Badge and Legion of Merit Award (Posthumous).

He was survived by his parents; mother, Maureen Truitt; step-father, Dean Truitt; step-mother Karen McClure Williams; step-father, Michael Williams; his fiancé, Hilda Arnett, his sisters, Kristie McClure Martorana,(Scott) and Stacey McClure Hoppel; his brothers, Adam McClure, and Aaron McClure; and two children, Sean E McClure and Dylan Tyler McClure.